ARBROATH BOSS John McGlashan is optimistic his side can confound predictions of an immediate return to the third division this term,
The Red Lichties only won promotion to division two via the play-offs, and McGlashan knows there's an expectation they won't be around the higher level for long. He reckons the Angus club are going to spring a surprise though.
"Everyone is tipping us to go straight back down," acknowledged McGlashan. But we've a lot of big hearted players at Gay-field and the boys we've brought in over the summer have enhanced us technically. "Of course this is a step up, but for me we're not a million miles away from being a good solid second division team. "The aim this season is to establish ourselves and that's not beyond us at all.
"We played Alloa in the League Cup last year and beat them. They went on to finish fourth top of this division. That gives me heart."
McGlashan has also been encouraged by the way pre-season has gone. "The fact we finished last season on such a high meant we went into the build up with a real impetus," he added. "And with our having held special training sessions between the end of last term and pre-season getting under way, everyone was in good shape when they reported back. "That's allowed us to progress really quickly. "We're in fine fettle for the start of a season everyone is really looking forward to."
McGlashan has, over the summer, signed Kenny Wright, Joe Dingwall, Scott Gates and John Fraser, with Sean Simpson poised to join them. He also hopes to secure a striker on loan before the campaign gets under way