Scott Clelland says he’ll have no trouble settling in at Girvan – three of his former team-mates are still playing there.
Clelland has joined the Hamilton Park coaching team only weeks after his shock sacking as manager of Darvel.
And his Darvel sidekicks Alex Smith and Andy McInnes have moved with him.
Clelland, 37, will work alongside manager Lawrie Dinwoodie who has said he is happy to hand over the reins at the end of the season.
Clelland revealed: “I was three years at Girvan as a player under Michael O’Neill, Willie Thomson and Brian McLuckie so it’s great to go back.
“Darren Mitchell, Stevie O’Donnell and Danny Cunningham were team-mates and they’re still pulling on their boots.
“There’s lots of other familiar faces on the committee such as Tam McCreadie so straight away I feel at home.
“The aim is to keep Girvan in the Premier. Peter Leonard has left them in great shape and they seem a good squad to work with.
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“ I don’t have the necessary coaching licence to take over right away but I’m working to get that.”
Clelland led Darvel to their first Ayrshire League title in 50 years before his out of the blue sacking.
He claimed: “I was stabbed in the back. I left them fifth in the First Division with a game in hand and had just drawn 3-3 at Largs who were one of our toughest opponents.
“That proved to be my last game and I was sacked the following Tuesday.
“When I went there they had only seven players and I was one of them so I feel I did a decent job. But I ended up with the bullet.”
Clelland, who met the Girvan players last week, will join Dinwoodie in the dugout away to Clydebank on Saturday.
All last weekend’s frozen off Scottish Cup ties are re-scheduled with top game at Townhead Park where CUMNOCK take on Bathgate in a re-run of the 2008 final which the east coast side won 2-1 at Rugby Park.
Skipper Paul Burns, who was in the crowd that day as a fan, said: “It’s one to look forward to.”