HOW ARE EK’S TITLE RIVALS SHAPING UP?
Defending champions
Since pipping Kilby to the title on the last day of the season, the Edinburgh outfit have added ex-Kilby striker Jack Smith to their ranks.
Smith was the league’s top scorer with 21 goals for BSC Glasgow last season and the champions snapped him up in the summer.
They have also kept the vast majority of the title-winning squad at Ainslie Park, including star keeper Blair Carswell.
Their participation in the Betfred Cup, in which they claimed a good 2-2 draw with Premiership side St Mirren last week, could hinder their progress early in the campaign.
Kilby found the demands of the competition draining last term and that contributed to some of their disappointing form early on.
But Dougie Samuel’s men have a will to win that saw them grind the title out last season. You can never discount them. weeks later, and he has acted swiftly to bring in a trio of players from Kilby.
Midfielder Declan Hughes and former Airdire striker Bryan Prunty have joined, along with arguably Kilby’s best player of last season, Adam Strachan. He left K-Park when Billy Stark refused to offer him a new deal, but EK’s loss will be BSC’s gain as his lightning pace and surging runs will strike fear into opponents.
The arrival of former Pollok striker David Winters, brother of ex-EK and Aberdeen man Robbie, is another big signing for the Maryhill outfit.
Their work in the transfer window has been impressive and they will be right up there this season with that kind of firepower.
Fourth last season
Shire are awash with SPFL experience in their ranks and the frontline of ex-Peterhead man Andy Rogers and former Edinburgh City striker Ross Allum will do plenty of damage.
They had a tremendous run at the end of last season, going a club record 19 games unbeaten, but were just pipped to third spot by BSC Glasgow. If they pick up where they left off, they could be in for a memorable season.
This will be their third campaign in the league after their relegation from League Two in 2016, so the club will be going all out to return to the SPFL.
John Sludden’s side will play their matches at the Falkirk Stadium after their Ochilview groundshare with Stenhousemuir came to an end.