Dalbeattie Star are looking to reconnect with the local community this season.
The Islecroft side are preparing for life in the South of Scotland League following their relegation from the Lowland
League.
And boss Eddie Warwick’s overhaul of the squad has seen plenty of arrivals from Dumfries and Galloway, in particular some Dalbeattie players such as Farrel O’Sullivan and Ross Hunter.
Warwick said: “When I went in back in November, I was shocked to see how adrift and apart they were from the local area.
“The changing room was full of central belt players, there were maybe only two locals and I was quite taken aback how bad it was.
“The club want their local identity back. There’s a lot of local Dalbeattie boys involved now and we have a coach from Dalbeattie as well.
“There’s a real local identity and feel about the club now.
“It’s a rebuild of the whole squad.” O’Sullivan has arrived in the last week for a second spell at the club and will also be the club’s sports scientist.
Goalkeeper Robbie Minto and Sebastian Teneggi have also joined the club, with Warwick revealing there are still another “two or three really good announcements to make”.
The squad has also been boosted by the arrival of youngsters Jack Palmer, Greg Gourlay, Zak Fallowfield and Olly Meechan.
Warwick said: “I’m very passionate about youngsters, I’m qualified to work with young players, I’ve done it over the years at Queen of the South, working in China and at Carlisle United.
Leaving Islecroft this summer is former captain Steven Degnan, while David Cox, John Cumming, Andy Caffrey, Ronan Kearney and Franny Kilpatrick have joined up with Warwick’s former assistant Bryan Gilfillan at Gretna 2008.
