INVERKEITHING HILLFIELD SWIFTS have wasted little time in preparing for next season after announcing the arrivals of eight new players.
Jason McCrindle's side are preparing to play in the East of Scotland League First Division following relegation from the Premier Division, and he has moved quickly to freshen up his squad.
Swifts, who memorably won the East of Scotland Qualifying Cup, in what was their first major final as a senior club, have completed a deal to bring Reece Beveridge back on a permanent basis.
He joined on an emergency loan from SPFL League Two East Fife before Christmas, but will be back in the yellow and blue next term.
READ MORE: Swifts suffer Premier Division drop after Haws defeat
Following him are three members of Heriot-Watt University's under-20s league winning team from last season, in the shape of pacy forward, Angelo Cristea; fellow attacker, Kye Jones; and Eoghan Mullholland, who captained the students' team.
Jason McCrindle (left) has made several new additions. (Image: David Wardle.)
McCrindle has also brought in experience in the shape of 28-year-old central midfielder Mark Allan, who previously helped Oakley United win promotion, and who will also be part of the Swifts' new under-20s coaching team.
Former Alloa Athletic, East Fife and Burntisland Shipyard player, Mikey Couser, 29, has also been snapped up, as has 24-year-old Kinnoull captain, Cammy Robertson, and Dan Thomson, a former Swifts under-20s player who has returned after two successful seasons with Burntisland.
Speaking after the team's relegation was confirmed, McCrindle had told Press Sport that he had already begun speaking to players about joining the club, and that it was "not really time for rest and moping about".
READ MORE: Swifts secure stunning East of Scotland Qualifying Cup glory
"Everybody's on board and everybody's buying into it, so we need to make sure that we're not out of that league for too long," he said.
"It's going to be a really tough league. There's some well-established clubs in there, and with teams getting promoted from Division Two, I think the league itself is going to be really competitive.
"There's going to be a lot of challenges along the way, but I think with what we're trying to do, and the squad we're trying to put together, we have to be really competitive next year.
"Hopefully we'll have more good days but it's not going to be easy. We need to make sure we get the pre-season right, we get the preparation right, and we get off to a good start."
Joining Inverkeithing in next season's First Division will be Crossgates Primrose, who were also relegated from the Premier Division, whilst Oakley United suffered the drop from the First Division to the Second.
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