PETERSHILL boss Willie Paterson is once again dreading the quarterly phone bill coming in.

Paterson was forced to recruit 14 new players for the Springburn outfit 12 months ago – this time round he has at least a dozen new faces.

It all adds up to another busy close season, and the inevitable tough job of blooding a fresh group of players.

He could lament his current predicament, but has been in the game long enough to know the score.

He told SportTimes: "Petershill used to be amongst the biggest spenders in the Junior game, but those days are now in the past.

"Don't get me wrong, we still have money to spend, but it's not anything like we used to, hence the reason we have such a high turnover of players each season.

"The guys get a better offer and away they go. I don't blame them, but it definitely makes my job tougher.

"Mind you, you would be amazed at the number of players you need to speak with to get a dozen in – and that's the worry about the phone bill!"

But the squad of 19 who are sure to start the season at Peasy reported for pre-season training last Wednesday, and they discovered another piece of Paterson's professionalism.

He has introduced a sports scientist to the club, and said: "It's nothing major, but it's a step in the right direction. We gave the players an off-season fitness programme to keep them ticking over, and it seems to be paying dividends already."

Last season, Petershill were the lone side from the old Central League set-up in the top eight, although Paterson expects more of the old region's sides to break the Ayrshire monopoly in the forthcoming season.

He said: "I think it's all down to money. Budgets are bigger at the top Ayrshire clubs and we simply can't compete with them when it comes to handing out contracts to players.

"We have already lost players to Ayrshire teams this close season and the reason is simple – they were able to double their wages with the click of a finger.

"But there is absolutely no use in moaning about it. Pollok, Rob Roy and Shettleston are coming up to the top flight this year and they will make the league a wee bit more even in terms of the Central-Ayrshire divide.

"But Pollok coming back up hasn't been all good news for our club as we've lost our captain, Ross McCabe, to them."

Paterson hasn't yet seen the bookies odds for the new season, but he still remembers last term's when Peasy were strong favourites to take the drop.

They didn't, finished joint-fourth, and will be looking for more of the same this time around.

Paterson said: "I don't believe it's the team with the best players that naturally wins the league or the cups. Good players are obviously important, but it's all about the best team.

"Just look at Auchinleck Talbot, I don't necessarily think they have all the best players, but they definitely have the best team.

"It's my job now to blood our new players into the squad and gel them together as quickly as possible. Ideally, I would only like to be adding two or three players every season, but needs must."

The new players at Petershill include defenders Fraser McGhee from Clyde, former Annan Athletic star Peter Bradley, James Brough from East Kilbride, Chris Keterer ex-Campsie Black Watch, and James Brown from Cumbernauld United.

Also signed are midfielders Darren McLean and Chris Craig (Kilbirnie), Andy Cross (Shotts), and Martyn Shields (East Stirling). Forwards Michael Daly (Clyde), Dylan Connor (Tower Hearts U21s), and Scott Davidson (Clydebank), have also been added by Paterson.

The manager said: "I'm delighted with the players I've managed to bring in. I think they will strengthen us ahead of the new campaign.

"Now the hard work begins though, and that's something I've never shirked."

Petershill have also released a full list of their pre-season fixtures.

They are: July 18: Petershill v Partick Thistle; July 20: Petershill v Clyde; July 25: Sauchie v Petershill; July 29: Cumbernauld Colts v Petershill; and August 1: Largs Thistle v Petershill.