Cambuslang Rangers boss Paul McColl is in no rush to conclude the final make-up of his playing squad ahead of the new Junior season.

Winning promotion to the Central First Division prompted the hard-working McColl into a number of signing raids over the summer months.

And his main targets were at Easterhouse-based Tower Hearts whose highly-successful Under 21 side yielded up fully six new signings, including top marksman Alessandro Saverse and the much-sought after midfield pairing of Dale Simion and George Scott.

More familiar Junior names also appeared on the Somervell Park gaffer’s radar and today he expressed his delight in the captures of striker Mark Tait (Rutherglen Glencairn), midfielders Colin Boylan (Newmains Utd) and David Dunn (Lanark Utd).

He said: "We’ve been into our pre-season training routines for just over a fortnight now and it is shaping up as a happy camp with the younger lads gelling well with the more experienced Junior players.

“There’s a real positive vibe about the place and I’m excited about the prospect of seeing everyone in action when we head down into Ayrshire for our first pre-season friendly match against Irvine Vics on Saturday.

“But regardless of the result, I am not for one minute thinking we are close to being the finished article because truth is we need to recruit a few more experienced types who have been there and done it if we are to be ready for meeting the challenge of playing in the higher division.

“There’s an opportunity for Cambuslang Rangers to show they are more than capable of holding their own in what looks like a very competitive league and my aim is not to be merely making up the numbers.

”I’m determined that we give ourselves the chance to do better than consolidate.”

Setting his sights high led to McColl holding further signing talks which he hopes will boost his playing hand ahead of the weekend trip to Victoria Park.

He added: "Johnny Boal and Stephen Wedlock, two defenders who previously worked with at Wishaw, are coming into training this week and I’m also hoping to persuade Mark Bishop into returning to the club where he made his name.

“Getting an inspirational character of his ilk on board will definitely help in a playing sense, however it could also do a trick in terms of attracting other quality players to throw in their lot with us.”

Rossvale are one of the teams that the Wee Gers boss reckons will be scrapping for the promotion places next May even though the Bishopbriggs outfit have been ringing the changes under manager Brian McGinty.

Only seven of last season’s squad whose dip in form over the first division run-in culminated in their fourth top spot finish in the standings have penned new contract offers.

"But the one-time Rangers signing was quick off the mark to snap up six of his former promotion winning Bellshill Athletic playing charges in the shape of Craig Holmes, Steven Tart, Davie Shaw, Jamie Donnelly, Gary McGrath and goalkeeper/coach Phil Bannister.

Gints said: "Having a whole raft of players head away to pastures new in one fell swoop was always going to present difficulties, but I’m pleased with our transfer dealings to date.

“And our bringing in guys who are familiar with each other will hopefully make the gelling process easier and allow us to hit the ground running.

“A total of 14 players are now on the books so there are places to fill, however as many as 10 prospective signings have agreed to join our training sessions and I believe we will be in decent shape for the big kick-off.”

Yet another of the fancied first division sides, St Roch's have recruited ex-Clyde defender Brian McQueen after he impressed playing as a trialist in a weekend 6-0 pre-season friendly win over Alloa Athletic Under 20s at Springburn Park.

Vastly-experienced stopper Kevin Rutkiewicz, player coach with Irvine Meadow and Blantyre Vics last season , also figured as a trialist for the Candy Rock for whom summer signing Kieron Daw netted a debut goal to go along with strikes from Jordan Logan(2), John Sweeney, Declan Docherty and Robert McGuire.

Also in early friendly action were Forth Wanderers whose fielding a team of six trialists away to East Region big guns Sauchie resulted in a 6-0 defeat for Jamie McKenzie’s men.

Meanwhile the draw for this season’s Clydesdale Cup competition has pitted Forth at home to Lesmahagow while Carluke Rovers will host the visit of Lanark United in the other half of the draw.