There can be no disguising the fact 2014 was a memorable season for Pollok albeit for all the wrong reasons after the Southside giants succumbed to a first-ever relegation from the Super Premier Division.

A footballing rehabilitation of sorts has been underway since the summer months.

However, Lok boss Tony McInally's determination to make 2015 an infinitely better year for his club's supporting legions has led to him making an early New Year double signing swoop on the Senior ranks.

Moving to Newlandsfield are experienced Peterhead duo Ryan McCann and Dean Richardson with right-sided midfielder McCann undoubtedly the better known after notable playing stints with St Johnstone and the Queen of the South side that momentously reached the 2008 Scottish Cup Final only to narrowly lose 3-2 against Rangers.

The 33-year-old who can also operate as a right back scored for the Dumfries club in the 2-0 quarter-final defeat of Dundee with a shot from fully 84 yards that was proposed as an entry into the Guinness Book of Records as the longest distance goal by an outfield player.

Tough-tackling left-back Richardson, 27, previously played in the Juniors with Larkhall Thistle and was formerly team captain at East Stirling.

Macca's satisfaction over his latest acquisitions was plain to see last night.

He said: "We have had an impressive start to the season, but the last thing we want to do is throw all our good work away because of a lack of numbers.

"It has been our aim all along to make strengthening moves in the January transfer window just as long as the right players were available and we believe that to be the case with both Ryan and Dean.

"Bringing them on board leaves us so much better equipped for the title run-in and to hopefully mount a push in the cup competitions because it's not enough for a club like ours to be simply making up the numbers.

"The extra injection of quality and experience could make all the difference in the tough Cup ties looming ahead of us."

The runaway Super First Division leaders will look to extend their unbeaten run to 16 games when taking to the road on Saturday to face Neilston whose carving out a 2-2 Newlandsfield draw back in early October continues to stand as the solitary blemish in Pollok's home league record.

Macca said: "We probably could have taken all three points from that game after building an early 2-0 lead.

"However, a red card for Alan McKenzie around the half hour mark was all the encouragement Neilston needed to put us under the cosh and get back on level terms .

"They always tend to make it difficult for us at Brig O'Lea and I cannot help, but feel our players will need to roll up their sleeves and battle their corner to get anything out of the game."

Neilston boss Andy Whiteford, who has appointed ex-Shettleston and Vale of Clyde stopper John Crooks as his No 2 , wants his players to build on the winning start to 2015 achieved by last weekend's 2-1 victory over Kilsyth Rangers .

He revealed: "Stringing two league wins together for the first time this season has given everyone a lift.

"You can sense the guys are in the mood to make it a hat trick even though we are going up against the probable champions elect.

"It doesn't help that injuries continue to blight our season and already David "Cisco" Gordon and Adam Nisanci are rated definite non-starters.

"But there's better news of ex-Pollok winger Barry Tulloch and Graeme Barbour who have trained this week."

In other Super First Division contests, Shettleston are boosted by the return of Ross Dickson and Con Boyle for the visit of Ardeer Thistle as Hugh Kelly's men go all out to bounce back from last week's 4-3 reverse against Pollok.

Another of the leading promotion contenders, Rob Roy, will look to take advantage of Largs Thistle's managerless situation when the Seasiders visit Guys Meadow.

Ruling himself out of the running for the post is experienced campaigner Tommy Bryce, whose shock resignation as Glenafton manager on Monday had some pundits believing he would emerge as a leading Barrfields candidate .

Tommy, whose backroom team of Davie Fulton and Mark Howie have also quit, was circumspect over the reasons for his departure,

"I don't want to delve too much into the whys and wherefores but suffice to say I am scunnered with how events panned out at Glenafto.

"So my intention is to take a lengthy time away from the game.

"I was being undermined and when that happens to you as team manager then it's time to walk away."

Glenafton have not advertised the vacancy which has given rise to opinion that a replacement gaffer has already been identified with the names of recently-sacked Ayr United boss Mark Roberts and former Glens defender Craig McEwan, currently in charge of Arthurli receiving plenty of airing in Junior quarters .