The Firs Parkers' head coach, appointed last Wednesday, could not have accepted the manager's hotseat at a more perilous time, even if he had tried.
Shire's run of defeats since January has pushed them to the bottom of the league and left them, once again, semi-detached from the rest of Scottish football.
But, despite the omens, the former Dundee United and Scotland defender has already made a sure assessment of how to get them out of the mess they are in.
"The first thing we have to do is stop the rot," he said. "It can be difficult because there are players here who have got used to losing and that can be the hardest thing to overcome.
"We really need to get their confidence up and we will try and encourage them all we can.
"They can't be bad players because they are the same ones who got the club off to such a great start this season, but confidence is key to it all."
But the man who won the Second Division championship with Morton last season has wasted no time in trying to stamp his own mark on Shire's fortunes, making two new signings in his first full day in the job.
Former Celtic youth team player Dean Richardson, who had been playing in the League of Ireland with Bohemians, and Michael Bolochoweckyj, once of Alloa and latterly with Berwick Rangers, were drafted into the defence for Saturday's 3-0 home defeat against East Fife.
"I had to get players in that I knew because I really didn't know an awful lot about who was here, " he said.
And, after watching Saturday's defeat, McInally says he has an even clearer route map back to recovery.
"We need to work on organisation, especially in defence," he explained.
"We cannot have the kind of basic errors I saw against East Fife, the kind of errors which, quite frankly, should not be committed by teams at this level.
"We gave away two cheap goals, which were down to our mistakes, and you cannot afford to do that against teams like East Fife. That is the kind of thing we need to cut out."
Shire's odds on finishing bottom of the Third Division for a SIXTH successive season are shortening all the time and McInally is better aware than anyone that cannot be allowed to continue.
Money
He went on: "When we came here we talked to Spencer (Fearn) and liked his plans and we realise he isn't putting all this money into the club simply to sit at the bottom of the Third Division.
"He's ambitious and, especially next year, there will be a budget which will allow us to bring in a better standard of player. That is easier said than done, but we will try to do it."
McInally is impressed with Shire's new benefactor and claims Fearn's ambitions are matched by his own.
"Of course having some money to spend is a factor," he said.
"If it was the same old £10 a week and you were looking to get them team off the bottom of the league then you would be kidding yourself on.
"Look at East Fife – they have spent money and are running away with the league by twenty-odd points.
"I am not saying we will have that kind of money to spend, but if you have a wee bit then it at least puts you on a level playing field with everyone else."
Shire played Elgin City last night (Wednesday) as Heraldsport went to press and their next big test comes this weekend at Stranraer.
McInally will be able to welcome back striker Andy Rodgers and defender Gordon Moffat, having both now served their two-game bans.
The meetings between the sides have been close affairs, Shire came within seconds of snatching a point on their last trip to Stair Park only to be denied by an injury-time goal from Falkirk striker Mark Stewart, who was then on loan at Stranraer.
Then, on Tuesday, the game which could make-or-break Shire's season is at Firs Park as they take on Dumbarton – one of only two teams Shire have any realistic chance of catching.
So, by this time next week, McInally should have a clearer idea if his first objective will be met.

sport@falkirkherald.co.uk