JOHNSTONE BURGH co-manager Colin Smith says he’s targeting promotion this season despite the club’s off-field problems.

The Keanie Park side were relegated to the lowest tier of junior football last season after finishing bottom of the Central District First Division.

Things then went from bad to worse for Burgh over the summer when officials revealed the club faced closure due to mounting debts and a dwindling committee.

Since then the Johnstone club have managed to secure sponsorships for the season ahead, but the side’s long-term future still remains in doubt.

Despite the problems, Smith insists it’s business as usual and makes it clear that his aim’s for the season won’t change regardless of what happens behind the scenes.

He said: “The aim for this season has always been to gain promotion back up to the Central First Division and any off-field circumstances won’t change that.

“It’s always been tough for me and David Brolly in terms of finances, we've never really had any money to spend and this year is no different.

“I admit the club’s overall finances are the worst they've ever been but when it comes to what we have to spend on the playing side of things it’s the same as every other year.

“David and I just need to get on with it and that’s what we've done. We’ve managed to rebuild the team again and we will be making it clear to the players that the aim is to gain promotion.”

While the management duo haven’t been able to spend any money on players they’ve still been able to construct a full squad for the 2017/18 campaign.

Smith has re-signed seven players from last season team and also brought in a number of youth players he believes can cut it at junior level.

He said: “We have a solid squad of about 20 players, we managed to re-sign the majority of those that we wanted to from last season which was great.

“We also have a few new faces from elsewhere and some talented youngsters from our under 21s joining the team so I’m very happy with the team we've assembled.

“Our squad this year is going to be a young one, but I’m more than confident that the players we have will be able to a job for us.”

Paul Sweeney and Greg Barr have both been linked with a move back to Keanie Park and while Smith admits he’s spoken to the players he insists that a deal has yet be done.

He added: “Greg Barr and Paul Sweeney are two players we are hoping to be able to bring back to the club, we’ve been in contact with them and they both seem interested but nothing has been made official.”

In other news, the Scottish Junior Football Association (SJFA) held their annual general meeting in Perth over the weekend.

It was announced that St Anthony's match secretary Felix McKenna had been chosen to replace Harry Lawrie as SJFA President.

McKenna had been the Vice President prior to the AGM so it was also revealed that he would be replaced in that role by Clydebank’s Matt Bamford.

While McKenna was busy in Perth with association business his St Anthony’s colleagues were busy at home with club business.

The Ants management team of Ronnie McDonald and John Doyle announced that they had re-signed two key players in the form of winger Dean McKay and striker Craig Smith.

It was also a busy weekend for Arthurlie boss Chris Mackie as he finalised the signing of ten new players.

Former Clyde midfielder Marc McKenzie was the first to arrive, closely followed by junior veteran Colin Spence who joins the Lie from Troon.

It was then revealed that both Ryan McNeil and Jamie Lindsay had joined the club permanently after successful trial spells.

Sunday then saw the arrival of Chris Walker from Pollok as well as Alex Wyper who returns to Scotland after a scholarship in the US.

Cumbernauld United frontman Chris Lennon was Mackie’s seventh signing of the weekend while Jordan Craig from Blantyre Victoria was number eight.

Two former Lie players also returned to the club, central defender Steven Tart rejoined from Rossvale while goalkeeper Anton Nugent returned from Gartcairn.

Mackie rounded off his weekend signing spree by bringing in midfielder Macauley Wilson from Fauldhouse United.