Ian Currie hasn’t given up hope of steering Vale of Clyde to another champagne season as he readies his Tollcross side to defend their Euroscot Eng Sectional League Cup crown.

There is no doubting that eyebrows aplenty were raised when the Tin Pail defied all the odds to lift the prestigious early season silverware with a cup final penalty kick shootout defeat of Petershill last time out.

And long-serving team boss Currie is adamant in his insistence that a repeat success is not beyond his playing charges.

Speaking after a stiff pre-season training workout last night, he said: "Look, I know we created shockwaves with our trophy win last season, but I don’t believe many people will deny we deserved it over the piece.

“Of course our focus has to be on taking just one step at a time, starting with attempting to top a very difficult and competitive section but we’re probably better placed to have a crack at it than we were a year ago.

“Preparations have gone really well to date and just last midweek we drew 2-2 against the very strong East Kilbride Lowland League outfit and probably should have won the game after twice taking the lead but for their guest player Robbie Winters levelling the scores on each occasion.

“But we can take a lot of positives from our performance, which was pretty good if I say so myself.”

Vale of Clyde have yet to fix dates for friendly encounters with Shettleston, Queen's Park and crack amateurs Campsie Minerva as Currie looks to bed in a handful of summer months acquisitions.

He added: "We are in a far better place than this time last season when Del Hepburn opting to join Pollok was followed by players going out on trial elsewhere in seeking to move out to pastures new.

“This time out our only departure is midfielder Connor Stevenson, who has signed for Petershill and I’m disappointed to lose someone of his qualities but resigned to the fact we couldn’t stand in his way of playing at a higher level.

“Connor goes with our best wishes for his future in the game, however the door will always remain open because it speaks volumes about what we are trying to do here at Fullarton Park when two former players are coming back to Vale of Clyde.

“Ryan Frances, whose terrific centre-back displays earned a step upstairs to Clyde just three years ago, has returned after being reinstated for a season-long playing stint at Shettleston, while my own son Dean is back in the fold from Shotts Bon Accord.”

Currie’s other signings to date number goalkeeper Matty Lynch (Cambuslang Rangers), striker Alan Kane (Clyde) and one-time Celtic winger signing Kris Irvine, who was on Cumbernauld United’s books last season.

The seasoned gaffer admitted to deriving just as much delight from convincing ex-Senior duo Chris Martin and Scott McManus to throw in their lot with the Tin Pail.

He added , “Chris came to us on loan from Dumbarton and has now made his move permanent while Scott decided to do the same midway through last season after cutting his ties with Clyde .

He said: "I felt we might struggle to keep him as there was a lot of transfer interest shown by higher league Junior outfits but he committed himself to the Vale and I couldn’t be happier on the back of him serving up an outstanding 70 minutes against East Kilbride before tiring.

“It’s debatable if there are many better strikers when Scott is on his game and he could be a massive player for us over the coming months.”

Meanwhile, determined not to become the forgotten man of Junior football is Tin Pail hitman Gavin Ross.

He was fronting their forward line this time last season until suffering a horrific leg break in an October clash away to Annbank United that subsequently ruled him out of the Euroscot Eng Cup finale.

The 28-year-old has been on the recovery trail ever since, but has recently been hindered by problems associated with the metal screws inserted below his knee and ankle to assist the bone to knit.

Gavin, who previously turned out with Rutherglen Glencairn, revealed: "I couldn’t begin to tot up the amount of physiotherapy appointments I’ve attended over the last ten months which have seen a lot of hard work go in to build up my leg muscles to what they were before.

“And the surgeon has also said the break itself has completely healed however any thoughts of a playing comeback have to be put on hold until I undergo an operation to remove the screws which are causing me agonising pain if I attempt to even jog lightly.

“So far I’ve been three months on the NHS waiting list and it’s been such a frustrating and demoralising time that I cannot bring myself to so much as go along and watch the Vale games knowing I am still a good few months from running about with the guys again.

“Hopefully I will get the nod soon as I want to get back playing.”

Friendly result: BSC Glasgow v St Roch's, Largs Thistle v St Mirren Under 20’s, Renfrew v Westpark Under 21’s.