A FEW eyebrows were raised when three top-level Junior talents pitched up at Rossvale earlier this week, but for manager Gordon Moffat the coups came as no surprise.

Ahead of making the step up to the West Championship, the Central District First Division champions have pulled off something of a triple coup.

Former Rob Roy captain Gary McMenamin has arrived in Bishopbriggs – where he will combine duties as both a player and Moffat’s assistant – while ex-Ayr United attacker Andy Johnstone is also making the switch from Kirkintilloch.

Not content with plundering Rob Roy’s riches, Rossvale have also convinced Craig Buchanan to take the step down from the top tier after the defender enjoyed recent spells with Arthurlie and Pollok.

McMenamin’s decision in particular, given his senior role at The Rab, has caught many on the hop but Moffat said the move had been one long in the pipeline.

“A few eyebrows were raised when we got Gary McMenamin,” said the ex-Albion Rovers stopper. “People were thinking, ‘How have Rossvale managed that?’ without knowing that he’s my best mate.

“He was club captain at Rob Roy, he brings a lot of experience, a lot of nous and off the park he demands high standards, so he’ll be great for the changing room. It’s been a long time coming but I’m delighted to get him in.”

The experience McMenamin brings to the table for Rossvale will be complemented by the arrival of 19-year-old speed merchant Johnstone and powerful centre-half Buchanan.

Moffat is hopeful that under his watch Johnstone and Buchanan can rediscover the form that saw them coveted by the Junior game’s top sides.

He continued: “Andy is a great addition. He had offers to stay in the top league but we managed to convince him to come.

“He’s lightning quick which is the one thing I wanted to add as I know he’ll fit in right away to how we play going forward.

“Andy has been at a right good level with Ayr but his career has maybe stalled a wee bit, he’d probably say that himself, so he’s just looking for more game time.

“With Craig, in the season we went for the title when I was assistant at Rob Roy, the big man was a mainstay of the best defence in the league.

“He’s bounced around after that, never quite settled, so I had a chat with him, I didn’t need to sell it in the end but I thought I would given the level he has been at.

“After that chat, he was right up for it. He’ll fit in really well and is another big name for us.”

Rossvale will compete in the newly-formed West Championship next season after claiming the First Division title following an impressive late surge.

Moffat believes the addition of three players boasting experience at a higher level will help the squad cope with the tougher demands when they make the step up to the second tier.

“That was exactly the thinking,” Moffat said. “I said to the committee when we were planning for next season that it’s not going to be a numbers game, as I didn’t have to rip up this squad.

“A lot will cope fine with the step up so it was about adding quality over quantity, players that can challenge the current guys to get better – that was the idea.

“I’m not naive enough to think I could go up and not strengthen so that’s what we’ve done.

“I’ve said to the guys from last year that we’re not going up just to make up the numbers, we’re going up to try and compete.”