Chris Wilson insists life is looking up for Dalry Thistle – on and off the park.
The 48-year-old inherited just ONE player when he replaced Gavin Friels in the hot seat five weeks ago.
Since then he's assembled a youthful squad of 18 players he believes can develop and ultimately become competitive in West of Scotland League Conference B.
Just as crucial for Wilson, he's helped lay foundations for the future after persuading the club to form an Under-20s development side.
There's plenty going on behind the scenes too, with upgraded dressing rooms and changes to the Merksworth Park playing surface in the pipeline.
"I accepted the enormity of the job when I came here but we're in a far better place than we were when I arrived," insisted Wilson.
"We've had four games in pre-season and although we didn't win any, on the whole, I couldn't ask for any more from the players.
"The younger boys have matured and there's a great spirit about the squad. We're really looking forward to the season and there's a real buzz about the place.
"The committee have been fantastic. Anything I've asked for hasn't been a problem for them and that's made my job a lot easier."
Wilson made the step up from running Beith Under-20s to take the job and, perhaps unsurprisingly, recruited eight players from The Mighty's youth set-up to kick start his Theeso revolution.
He's added a sprinkling of experience by bringing in proven goalscorer Brian Ashe from Maryhill, midfielder Billy Wilson from Larkhall and former Gartcairn forward Vinnie Newlands.
Midfielders Ciaran O'Donohue and Sam McNeil, who both had spells at Maryhill, have also put pen to paper on deals.
Wilson knows his team will need time to find their feet this season, particularly with such a tough start to their campaign, starting with the visit of Kello Rovers on Saturday.
"We're going to be coming up against teams in our first five games I think will be right up there at the end of the season," he said.
"We want to be competitive. We'll approach every game to win but, as I've said before, that consistency might not be there every week with such a young group of boys. We will look to add some more faces to help them out.
"I'm under no illusions about this season. We have to be realistic. I'd view finishing in the top half of the table a very successful season.
"The encouraging thing is everyone is working together to push the club on."
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