Craigroyston aiming to go one better

Craigroyston completed the season in third position and manager Jamie Burrell is determined to go at least one place higher this coming season.

"Although we had set our sights on promotion last season, we did not have a lot to complain about," explained Burrell.

He has been exceptionally busy in the transfer market over the summer, signing eight new players to add to the 14 he retained from last season. Ubong Umotong (Newtongrange Star), Keith Pullen, Steven Finlayson (both Edinburgh United), Mark Spiden (unattached) and Jordan McKenzie (Ormiston) are some of the new faces that will be gracing St Mark's Park this season.

Burrell and his players will not have long to wait to find out how far they have progressed since last season when their visitors to Edinburgh tomorrow are Gretna 2008, likely to be fellow promotion contenders, who finished in fourth spot last season.

Leith Athletic have appointed Willie McFarlane as their new manager to replace Eugene Taylor after the success of Leith's under-19 team in recent seasons.

Coldstream, under the guidance of former Peebles and Spartans Juniors manager Mark Lamb, could be favourites to make a return to the Premier Division after being relegated last season.

Easthouses Lily manager Dave McQueenie is hopeful of a better finish then sixth last season and he has added goalkeeper Craig Weir and striker David Jeffreys, both from Craigroyston, to his squad.

Ormiston manager Murray Cheyne has signed goalscorer Paul Lynch from Whitehill Welfare and, in the Borders, Peebles have appointed Stuart Robertson, previously with Gala Fairydean and Vale of Leithen, as their new man to help steer them back into their glory days.

Tomorrow's game at St Mark's Park between Craigroyston and Gretna 2008 would seem to have two of the promotion favourites on view.