CO-MANAGER Colin Smith insists the key to future success for Johnstone Burgh lies within the club’s youth system.

Burgh have recently promoted five players from their Under-21 Scottish Cup winning squad in a bid to improve the team ahead of the 2016/17 season.

The Keanie Park outfit exceeded expectations last season when they finished in the top half of the Central District First Division after gaining promotion to the league just the year before.

However, Smith is aiming to go one better this term and secure promotion to the Super League First Division, and he’s confident his young guns have what it takes to help Burgh do just that.

He said: “Turning the spotlight on youth is the way forward for this club, as we don’t have the funds to be able to sign the big names.

“Some people may look at that as a negative, but I don’t think it's such a bad thing, it’s the way we have been operating for a while and it’s worked so far.

“We have five members of the club's under-21s coming into the first team this term. They won the U21 Scottish Cup last season so that shows they have talent.

“We’ve called up Steven Brown, James Usher, Danny Smith as well as Kenny Wright and Garry McCormick.

“Me and David [Brolly] know these boys well; we’ve watched them play on numerous occasions and I have no doubt in my mind that they have the ability to help us achieve our aims this coming season.”

Smith added: “We were in the promotion mix for most of last season and I don’t see why we can’t go one better this year and make the step up.

“We have a lot of talent in the squad and the new lads are only going to add to that, so we definitely have what it takes to go up.”

Smith may have his sights firmly set on promotion, but he’s going to have to do it without talented frontman Jason Hardie and midfield maestro Sean Fitzharris.

Hardie is set to join Super League Premier Division side Petershill in the coming weeks while Fitzharris is currently on the hunt for a new employer after deciding not to renew his Burgh deal.

Smith said: “We’ve lost Jason to Petershill and Sean is also looking to leave so I don’t expect him to be here next season.

“Losing those two is a big blow for us as they were amongst our star players last season, but we’ll make do without them. We will just have to get on with it."

Burgh will also be forced to start the new season without two of their key players as both Neil Dinnen and Mark McIntyre have been ruled out long term with ankle injuries.

Smith added: “We also have a few big players who will have to start the new campaign on the treatment table.

"Neil Dinnen will be out for the season due to an ankle injury and Mark McIntyre will also be missing till around Christmas after breaking his ankle last year.

“But as I’ve already mentioned, we’ve brought in some top young players that I’m confident will fill the gaps admirably in the squad.”

Elsewhere on the Junior scene, St Roch’s were crowned 1888 Charity Shield champions on Saturday after emerging victorious in a seven-a-side tournament at Lennoxtown.

Andy Cameron’s men puts seven other teams to the sword in order to be named this year’s winners of the Celtic Foundation’s annual charity tournament.

Celtic super fan Jay Beattie was on hand to present the Candy Rock players with their winners' medals before foundation officials handed over the shield to the winning team.