Bo'ness are even stronger

McGonigal, trying to juggle two jobs at the moment after being appointed as Hamilton Accies Under-19 manager over the summer, believes Bo'ness are heading into the new campaign with a stronger squad than last season.

He's lost Darren Gribben, the striker having returned to Berwick Rangers but, on the plus side, the much-travelled John Fraser as well as Brian Carrigan, Brian Carroll and Brian Hamilton have all arrived at Newtown Park over the past few weeks.

The capture of Fraser, in particular, has delighted McGonigal, who sees the former Dunfermline, Hamilton, Clyde, Stirling Albion and Partick Thistle midfielder as the perfect foil for Andy Shirra in his engine room.

But, ahead of tomorrow's big kick-off against Bathgate Thistle, the Bo'ness boss has picked out Linlithgow Rose and Camelon as the two teams he sees as the main threat to the champions over the coming weeks and months.

"Last season is going to be a hard act to follow but I am sure we will still be there or thereabouts," said McGonigal. "The players have set standards that are extremely high but I've strengthened the squad, there's no question about that.

"As for who I think will be our main challengers for the title, I'd say it will probably be Linlithgow, who will definitely be stronger this season, and Camelon, who have added two or three really good players."

While Bo'ness were always in the driving seat in the title race and were worthy champions last season after suffering only two defeats in 22 league games, they only finished three points ahead of Linlithgow in the end.

That's because Dave Baikie's men, after stuttering a bit at the start of the campaign, were flying at the finish and picked up the Scottish Junior Cup as a tidy consolation for missing out on the title.

In addition to club captain Danny Smith, who is now assistant manager at Kilsyth Rangers, Baikie has also lost Chris McMenamin, John Adam, Mike McDermott and Paddy Flannery over the summer.

But his striking options have been bolstered with the capture of Colin Strickland from Whitburn, while Adam Nelson's move from Musselburgh could also prove a telling piece of business.

"We had far too many draws at the start of last season and, ultimately, that's what cost us in the title race," admitted Baikie. "I don't feel any added pressure this season, though, due to Bo'ness having come out on top then.

"We'll just go out and do our business and, hopefully, we'll make a better start this time."

Without question, the biggest hole in any of the 12 Super League squads over the summer was left at Bathgate after they lost the services of prolific striker Jim Lister, who has moved to Alloa.

Chris Jeffrey, one of the players brought in to try and fill his boots at Creamery Park, has already been ruled out for a few weeks after breaking his leg in a League Cup game. But Bathgate boss Graeme Love is looking for more of the same from his men after they excelled last season to not only finish third in the league but also lift the Fife & Lothians Cup.

"When you're scoring 37 or 38 goals, as Jim did last season, it was inevitable that he was going to get the opportunity to move on and he left with the best wishes of everyone here," said Love, who has also lost the services of former Hibs team-mate Paul Riley and ex-Livingston striker Brian McPhee.

"Considering we went from a team fighting for survival at the end of the previous campaign to finishing third and winning a cup, we certainly did okay last season, though, at the same time, we could done even better.

"We're still trying to move the club forward under financial constraints and the new guys have fitted in well. The proof of the pudding will be in the big games and there certainly can't be any hiding as we've got Bo'ness then Linlithgow in our first two games."

Bonnyrigg, the 2008-09 champions, found themselves embroiled in matters at the other end of the table last season, finishing just above the relegation trapdoor in tenth position.

There's been some "cloth cutting" at New Dundas Park over the summer, with Ross Hamilton, Craig O'Reilly, Mark Robertson, Charlie Brigain, Greg Logan and Steven Noble all having departed.

"There's been quite a shake-up and, on the back of our League Cup campaign, I think we may have to temper our ambitions this season," said Bonnyrigg boss Alan Miller. "Having said that, you never know. Two seasons ago, we set out with the aim of trying to stay in the Super League but ended up as champions."

Musselburgh and Newtongrange, both of whom comfortably retained their places in the top flight last term after being promoted, will also have an unfamiliar look to them this time around following plenty of comings and goings at New Victoria Park and Olivebank.

"I always look to try and keep improving but, after managing that over the last four seasons, I think this will be the hardest," said Newtongrange boss Graeme Armstrong, who believes Liam McKenna can blend a bit better in the centre of midfield with Steven Thompson than the departed Damien Gielty.

Despite the loss of Adam Nelson, Scott Devlin, Ryan McCallum and Paul Tansy, amongst others, Musselburgh boss David McGlynn insists his squad hasn't necessarily been weakened. He's replaced them with a crop of promising youngsters and believes Alan Morgan, in particular, will be a player to watch this season.

"He's been a stick out in our games so far," said McGlynn of the midfielder, who played for Inverness Caley and Kilmarnock.