Stirling Albion are closing in on a new manager after drawing up a shortlist of candidates from the hundreds of applications received for the vacant post.

Binos chairman Stuart Brown (pictured right) revealed last weekend that the club had been inundated with applicants for the post vacated by Greig McDonald following a poor start to the their SPFL League One campaign.

And now the club have confirmed that a shortlist has now been drawn up for the managerial vacancy at Forthbank with interviews commencing towards the end of this week.

Chairman Stuart Brown said: “The Sift Panel met on Monday and the candidates successful at this stage have been confirmed.

“Those successful were contacted on Tuesday and interviews, subject to availability, will be conducted on Thursday or Friday of this week.

“Those unsuccessful at the sift stage will also be contacted on Monday to thank them for expressing an interest and wish them all the best for the future.” Leading candidates for the post at this stage according to the bookmakers are Martyn Corrigan, James Ward and Ian McCall.

Meanwhile, Caretaker boss Darren Smith praised the Stirling Albion players for a spirited performance as they ended a four-game losing run in a 2-2 home draw with Airdrieonians.

A stunning Dale Fulton strike and Gordon Smith’s seventh goal of the season twice had the Binos ahead but Scott Fraser, on loan from Dundee United, and Marc Fitzpatrick earned the Diamonds a point.

Skipper Smith, who is in interim charge along with Ross Forsyth, said: “Confidence has been low after recent results but we’ve had a great response from the players this week.

“Before the game we would probably have taken a point but the boys are disappointed after losing a goal so late on.

“To be fair, Airdrie had us pinned back at times in the second half and a draw was probably a fair result.

“Ross and I both wanted to play but we decided that we needed one of us in the dug-out. We had a bit of a debate over the last couple of days and he won.”