DAVID BROLLY and Colin Smith gained promotion in their first full season in charge of Johnstone Burgh – now the aim is to ensure they don’t go straight back down again.

Mind you, it took a late charge to clinch second-top place as a mini mid-season collapse looked likely to end their hopes of playing Central District First Division football in the forthcoming campaign.

They suffered home and away defeats to eventual champions Rossvale and a 4-1 reverse at home to St Roch’s which meant they had shipped 13 goals in three matches.

At that point, promotion looked unlikely as Burgh had nine league games left – the first four of which were away from home – and Brolly and Smith went to work on their players.

Brolly said: “It really was crunch time. We had enjoyed a good start to the season and were up there with Rossvale, but those three defeats in successive games were mind-numbing.

“We could have continued along the same tired path, and ended up in the bottom two or three, or knuckled down and rolled the sleeves up.

“Colin and I spoke to the players and, while I had never been a manager before, I was able to draw on a lengthy playing career and the experience that brings.

“It was the low point of last season, but after we had a chat with the players, it seemed to clear the air and we knew that our next game – at East Kilbride – was the most important of the season.

"I told the players it didn’t matter how we got the result, but just to go out there and get the win.

“Thankfully they did that. We won the match 2-1 and then won our next three – all on the road. We were left with five home matches and we won four and drew the other to finish second, and nine points clear of St Roch’s in third place. To win eight of our last nine games was incredible.”

Brolly is a Burgh legend, and spent 12 years at Keanie Park as a player. In between starting and finishing his career with Burgh, he played for Arthurlie, Irvine Meadow and Largs.

He is Burgh through and through, and has now started out on the path that may one day lead to the club regaining their place among the Junior elite.

He said: “That’s a tough one. Naturally, Colin and I want to take Burgh as far as we can. I played in the top flight with the club, but we would need to very lucky to get back there without a sizeable budget.

“We want to take the club as high as we can, but we just don’t have the money. Over the last five or six years, Burgh have been a bit of a ‘yo-yo’ club, so to go up and stay up would be progress, and that’s what we’re aiming for.

“We want to build the club up slowly, lay good foundations, and take it from there. I’ve watched a few of the teams in the Central League First Division and I think we could hold our own up there.”

Brolly added: “When the Johnstone Burgh committee appointed Colin and I as joint managers at the start of last season they said they wanted a change in style. They were looking for the team to play a bit more football, and that was music to my ears.

“The number one priority as far as we are concerned is that we make the football more enjoyable for our supporters to watch, and I think we’ve managed that to a certain extent.

“That is something we will be looking to continue into the new season and preparations are already well underway. We were up at Bellahouston Park again on Saturday, and were doing a lot of punishing work on the hills there.

“It’s something I think stood us in good stead towards the end of last season. While other teams were perhaps wilting a little near the end of games, we were still full of running. That is something Colin and I want to implement again.

“We have 18 players already signed, which includes 17 of last year’s squad. We have added goalkeeper Gavin Wallace, who played the last couple of games for us last term. He was with Shettleston at one point but had returned to Paisley amateur side Alba Thistle.

“We are also in talks to bring another lad on board, but he is in the middle of a scholarship in the USA, so we have to find out where we sit with that one.

“We are also delighted to have hung on to striker Jason Hardie as a number of top-flight clubs were interested in him. Jason scored 21 goals for us last season and will be a big player for us again.

“To replace him would have been nigh on impossible on our budget, but I’ve told him that if he gives us another season like that, they will be queuing up to get him next summer.

“Colin and I are delighted with where we’re at just now, and are already looking forward to the new campaign. The attitude of the players in training has been first-class, and if they can take that into the competitive season then we will be okay.”