ARDROSSAN Winton Rovers manager Sandy McLean reckons he can see sunnier times looming ahead after spending the close season under a cloud.

It’s arguable whether any other Junior team boss found themselves in a similar predicament to what former goalkeeper Sandy faced during the summer months when all but four of his playing charges … skipper Ryan Caddis, Bobby McColligan, Darren Miller and goalkeeper Dillon Caddis … upped sticks and headed for the Winton Park exit gates.

A handful of Winton players were enticed away by the prospect of playing under their erstwhile team-mates and recently installed Irvine Meadow co-gaffers Michael Wardrope and Gareth Turner while a fierce determination to land a move to pastures new has led to Ben Carson, Michael Holding, Simon Marriot and Graham Boyd being placed on the open-to-transfer list.

The seasoned campaigner admitted: “ I would describe the past couple of months as something akin to dire straits and they are probably the toughest that I’ve experienced throughout my footballing career.

“I’m not a wet behind the years novice at the game and fully expected there to be a number of comings and goings following our relegation to the Ayrshire District League at the end of last season, but the full scale of our departures came as a massive shock to the system and I found myself with a far greater team-building job than I’d ever anticipated.

“A lot of hard work went into our search for replacements and as you might expect, not every approach proved successful, however at long last I feel Ardrossan Winton Rovers are in a position to go from strength to strength with fully 15 players confirmed on the books and a few other prospects looking to attract contract offers by showing up well once our pre-season friendly matches get underway.”

Among the ex-Largs Thistle and Arthurlie gaffer’s definite recruits are highly-rated Greenock Juniors duo Kenny Munro and Brendan Garna, while renowned battler Tam Jamieson and his brother Alan have arrived from Port Glasgow Juniors along with Andy McGregor (Beith), Steven Tan (Ardeer Thistle), Mark Davidson (East Kilbride Lowland League and reinstated centre-back Luke Irvine (Morton).

Sandy revealed: “There’s a decent mix of experience and youth to the make-up of our side and I’m excited about the challenge of restoring the club’s fortunes from a footballing perspective.

“Getting the club on a better footing will be no overnight fix, but the backing from the people behind the scenes at Winton Park continues to be nothing short of phenomenal and I can have nobody but myself to blame for coming up short.”

Meanwhile, the funeral service for long-serving Winton official Tony Da Prato will take place at St Peters Church (10.30am) next Thursday, July 21, followed by his cremation at Holmsford Bridge in the Ayrshire town.

On the transfer front comes word of Renfrew running the rule over ex-Shettleston midfielder Danny Boyle and one-time Clydebank winger Kyle Cummings as co-bosses Colin Clark and Martin Ferry look to bolster their playing resources ahead of the new Junior season.

Both players are expected to feature in this coming Saturday’s pre-season friendly tilt with St Mirren Under 20s as is ex-Frew goalkeeper Danny McLeay who has likewise been in training at New Western Park.

Clarky said: “Chris Cameron’s injury enforced retirement and the news that Alain Kinney is ruled out for the season while awaiting surgery to put right an anterior cruciate ligament injury of his own has left us needing to rethink our playing squad options for life in the Super First Division.

“We were always going to need another goalkeeper to compete for the gloves with Dale Burgess and Danny fits that bill, however finding a replacement for Alain is not quite as straightforward because target-man types of his ilk are thin on the ground nowadays.

“A long and difficult recuperation period lies in front of him but the big man is determined to get back playing again and to that end we will do everything possible to help his recovery.”

Elsewhere, Paul Hanlon has moved from Lesmahagow to Glasgow Perthshire who have also completed the signing formalities to fix up hitman Craig Smith from Blantyre Vics in time for both players to figure in Saturday’s friendly head to head away to rivals Petershill.

FRIENDLY FIXTURES FOR SATURDAY

(Various kick-off times)

Arniston Rangers v Rutherglen Glencairn, Petershill v Glasgow Perthshire, Irvine Vics v Cambuslang Rangers, Arthurlie v Craigroyston, Threave Rovers v Troon, Blackburn Utd v Larkhall Thistle, Thorniewood Utd v Clydesdale Ams, Glenafton v Darvel, St Roch's v Beith, Auchinleck Talbot v Newtongrange Star, Civil Servant Strollers v Rob Roy, Largs Thistle v Fauldhouse Utd, Renfrew v St Mirren Under 20s, Kilsyth Rangers v Armadale Thistle, Neilston v Barrhead Under 20s, Irvine Meadow v St Anthony's, Whitburn v Blantyre Vics.