John Hartson has turned down the chance to become manager of East Stirlingshire, the Irn-Bru Scottish League third division side.

The former Celtic striker recently retired from playing after leaving West Bromwich Albion. East Stirling had hoped to present the Welshman as their new manager by the middle of this week. However the 32-year-old rejected the chance to go into management following talks with officials from the Falkirk-based club.

Spencer Fearn, a director, revealed: “He says he can’t accept, but he was very complimentary about the club.”

Hartson, who is based in Swansea, said: “It had nothing to do with the fact that it was East Stirling — if it was the Motherwell job or Dunfermline job I was being offered I would probably have given the same answer. I had loads of friends tell me it would be a great challenge for me and I was sorely tempted to accept the offer. But the timing is just not right for me at the moment.”

Hartson is not a qualified coach but plans to gain his first badges in the summer with the Welsh FA.

East Stirling will keep John Brownlie in caretaker charge. Brownlie took over when Gordon Wylde resigned last Thursday.

- Jose Goncalves eased fears over his Heart of Midlothian future by training yesterday. The left back, 22, missed Saturday’s 3-0 win over Inverness after being disciplined by Stephen Frail, the caretaker manager, for an incident during Wednesday’s 4-0 defeat by Rangers.