Having moved on from their great escape in May, Largs Thistle already set to get the ball rolling for the new season.

The club has entered the Kilbirnie football tournament on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 July.

The games, involving derby rivals Kilbirnie Ladeside, Renfrew and Rutherglen Glencairn F.C, will be played at Valefield Park, and will be a useful work-out for the new season before the Ardagh Cup sectional league gets underway.

Thistle host the club’s AGM at JG Sharp’s bar, Nelson Street, Largs, on Thursday 2 July. The AGM begins at 7.30pm and is open to all 200 Club members and season ticket holders.

With the exit of established Largs based players Grant Weir, Euan Lindsay and Iain Fisher, Thistle boss Bryan Slavin is on the look-out for new recruits.

Players believed to be on Thistle’s radar include attacking midfielder Lawrence McMahon, from Kilbirnie, and right-back Ciaran Friel from Dalry.

The Largs management team are also considering bringing back a former Thistle player when training begins in earnest in July.

Speaking to the ‘News’, manager Bryan Slavin said: “We are still on the look-out for another keeper, and we still have a few irons in the fire in terms of signing new players. We have a former Thistle player coming along to pre-season training, which begins on 10 July.

“We have got some good friendlies lined up which will act as important preparation for the season ahead.” The Thistle boss has already signalled his intentions to maintain the club’s season saving form over the last eight games of the season, and is aiming for the top in what is expected to be a highly competitive Super First Division.

Largs do not receive any funds for the transfer of Iain Fisher, who has moved to Premier outfit Hurlford United, because he was out of contract.

Friendlies have been arranged at Barrfields against Saltcoats Vics on Wednesday 22 July, and premier team Petershill on Saturday 1 August.

Largs have drawn Premier League side Troon away in a tough opening round in the New Coins Holdings West of Scotland Cup.

And Thistle have also won grant funding from the Kelburn windfarm for floodlight facilities for Barrfields Park for training purporses during the winter months.