ARTHURLIE coach Billy Peacock isn't superstitious, but he's hoping it's a case of third time lucky this coming season.

The former Renfrew boss is enjoying life in Barrhead, but his first two seasons with Lie have been a bit too close for comfort.

Since arriving at Dunterlie Park, Peacock has had to twice help Arthurlie battle the drop.

But he insisted that's a thing of the past, and that everyone at the club - who once knocked Celtic out of the senior Scottish Cup, in the late 19th century - is now looking upwards.

Peacock told Times Sport: "We finished last season really well, and managed to avoid automatic relegation with a bit to spare, but no one here wants to go through that pain again.

"We had a miracle escape during my first season at Arthurlie, and then we had the scare last term - so that's enough!"

Lie made all the headlines when they snapped up Junior Scotland hit man Richie Barr - a player Peacock knows only too well from his spell at Renfrew.

And manager Gavin Duncan has remained active in the transfer market this week, signing Rhys Devlin and Danny Burns.

Peacock added: "After some of the signings we've made, I would hope we wouldn't have to endure a third successive relegation battle."

The signing of Burns had Peacock purring with delight, and he said: "Danny will give us great options up front.

"Obviously Richie is a proven goalscorer, and we know what he brings to the team, but Danny has electrifying pace and can play either wide on the left or through the middle. He is an exciting addition to the squad.

"We had our first training session on Monday night and the boys were looking hungry.

"Afterwards, I got a text from Richie, and he had nothing but good things to say about the club. He thoroughly enjoyed the session and said we had a great bunch of lads. He can't wait to get started."

Peacock was also delighted to get his hands on holding midfielder Devlin, 23, who started out with St Mirren and has also played for Airdrie United and, most recently, East Stirling.

Peacock went on: "We have also signed two players who were on loan to us last season. Kevin Green was on loan from Albion Rovers and was so impressive in his debut season that he picked up the Supporters' Player of the Year award.

"Kyle Rafferty, who joins from Stranraer, was another who made a big impact at Dunterlie last term. He's only a young lad but he has a big future ahead."

And with the likes of Lee Bossley, Mark Blakey and goalkeeper Paddy Docherty also signing on for the new campaign, the future looks bright at Arthurlie.

The signings of Devlin and Burns, however, more or less means the squad is complete.

Peacock added: "We have our squad in place and that's that. You can never say for definite that we won't sign anyone else, but let's just say that we're happy with what we have.

"We have four friendlies arranged - against Newtongrange Star, Partick Thistle, Girvan and Craigroyston - before we head into the Sectional League Cup.

"By the time the league starts, the players will have been working with one another for the best part of a couple of months and should have built up a good understanding.

"That's important, because the Premier League looks like being incredibly tough again.

"As always, the team to beat will be Auchinleck Talbot, while the Hurlfords and Cumnocks will always be up there.

"Then you have the three teams who have come up from the First Division - Troon, Beith and Shotts - and that gives you an idea of how strong the league will be.

"It means we will all be trying to hit the ground running. The last thing you want to be doing is playing catch-up in a league as cut-throat as ours.

"But we're all looking forward to it, although we will miss our No. 2, Danny Drew, who has had to quit for work reasons.

"He will be a hard man to replace - because when Danny spoke, the players listened!"

Arthurlie play their first friendly on Saturday, July 19 against Newtongrange at Dunterlie Park.