Will it be a bounce or backlash for Jon Burrows?

As political career catapults go this one is off the scale.

Seven months ago, Jon Burrows wasn't even a politician, but now he is set to become the leader of the fourth-largest party in Northern Ireland.

To the list of former Ulster Unionist leaders like Edward Carson, Basil Brooke, Terence O'Neill and Brian Faulkner you can now add the name of Jon Burrows.

Remarkably, the former police officer pulled it off without securing one single vote from the electorate or any of the Ulster Unionist Party's (UUP) membership.

His name never appeared on a ballot paper, as he was firstly co-opted as an MLA for North Antrim and is now set to be installed as party leader without a contest.

But that, according to the incoming Ulster Unionist leader is a strength and not a weakness, as he claims it shows how any member can rise to the top.

Others within the party remain to be convinced.

There is no hiding the disquiet among some of the Ulster Unionist MLAs about being led by a colleague they barely know with no track record in the party.

In fact some can't hide their hostility at the prospect of Burrows as leader.

"His brazen pursuit of the leadership has played badly and in truth he only has the support of a few MLAs," said one senior party source.

"He's lost the dressing room even before his first match."

Far from enjoying a bounce as the new leader there are some within the party hoping for a Burrows backlash.

But that won't faze the new man in charge, as he is well aware of the discontent within the assembly ranks.

He will point to the widespread support he claims to have received from party grassroots members, but such support is hard to measure without a contest.

He, though, could argue it was sufficient to scare off any would be challengers.

He may also suggest the outworkings of this process expose a disconnect between some grassroots members and their elected team at Stormont - something the MLAs will no doubt reject.

What will be telling is how Burrows manages those within his team who have already rejected him.

He has promised a reshuffle and he may try to reach out by offering posts on various committees which provide extra profile for assembly members in the run-up to an election and also an uplift of £12,000 for some positions.

He will also have to decide on the fate of his predecessor, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt.

He wants to remain in that post, but it will now be for Burrows to decide.

In the interest of continuity, he may opt to leave Nesbitt in charge of health, but with an election coming, might he consider replacing him with an MLA who, unlike Nesbitt, is planning to stand for re-election?

The profile which comes with the health ministry can be a big vote winner - just ask South Antrim MP Robin Swann.

The first test for Burrows will come in his maiden news conference as any new leader would expect to be flanked by his assembly team.

Will we see a team photograph on the steps of Stormont next week?

The party may have been spared a potentially divisive leadership contest, but it hasn't emerged unscathed from the process.

Those internal wounds will take some time to heal and time is something in short supply with an election looming.