AUCHINLECK TALBOT — Last year’s Superleague Premier Divsion Champions and current Scottish Cup holders are the team everyone else has to catch up with.

Tommy Sloan has retained the nucleus of last season’s successful squad and will be looking to win everything they play for, with the added bonus of the chance of an extended run in the senior Scottish Cup.

MANAGER COMMENT — Assistant boss Allan McLuckie: “Although we have lost guys like David Gormley it gives an opporunity to young players like Mark Shankland and Robert Love.

“Shankland is a young boy with massive potential, he is the most natural finisher at the club, but he knows the areas of his game that he has to improve.

“We are like everyone else at this stage of the season, we want to win every game whether it’s a friendly or a competitive match, while treating every opponent with respect.” GLENAFTON ATHLETIC — Having came so close to cup glory when they lost the 2013-14 Scottish Cup Final to Hurlford, Glens lifted silverware when they won the Ardagh Glass League Cup, beating Talbot in the final.

While some players have left, they have been replaced by others of at least equal stature, such as returning star John Paul Boyle, and experienced defender Ally Park who has made the move from Auchinleck.

MANAGER COMMENT — Craig McEwan: “We want to be up there challenging Talbot with Hurlford and Meadow, while it is important we, as holders, get to the latter stages of the league cup.

“In the league, our opening match against Rob Roy will be a difficult one as they have just been promoted and have added new players. The Meldrum Cup match against them will have no bearing on the league opener, and we will have to acquit ourselves properly.” CUMNOCK — The Townhead Park club were relegated last season and will be looking to make an instant return to the top league.

There have been wholesale changes at the club with manager John McKeown bringing in almost a full starting 11, including expeienced players such as Paul Burns and James Lundie.) MANAGER COMMENT — John McKeown: “We are looking to go straight back up into the Premier Division and, with the greatest respect to other teams, it is where Cumnock should always be and what the fans, committee, management, and players are all working towards.

“A club of this stature and size, with its large support, belongs to the top league and with the players of the calibre we have signed we can kick-off from here.

AYRSHIRE DISTRICT LEAGUE — Four teams from the Chronicle’s circulation area are competing in the local division of the Super League, with the target of moving up a level always at the forefront of everyone’s thoughts.

LUGAR BOSWELL THISTLE will be hoping to go one better than last year when they went toe-to-toe with Kilwinning Rangers until a backlog of fixtures took its toll and the promotion bid collapsed.

Off-field problems beset the club, who at one point looked as if it may go out of existence until a new committee came forward, but by that time manager George Grierson had left the club as he found it difficult to work in such circumstances.

Grierson has since taken over the reins at MUIRKIRK, where the only way is up following a poor season when they finished bottom of the pile with just four points to show for a single win and draw.

The new gaffer has big plans, though, and has changed to club’s training venue from Muirkirk to the more central location of Kilmarnock, in a bid to attract more players, while making up for lost time in trying to get a squad together for the season ahead.

Two places above ‘Kirk in the final league table of last season were CRAIGMARK BURNTONIANS, who will also be looking to improve of their tally of 12 points, which was brought about by two wins and six draws.

Mid-table respectability was achieved by KELLO ROVERS who finished in sixth place, on 34 points, which was just nine points behind the challengers in third, Dalry Thistle — with a decent run the Kirkconnel side could find themselves in contention for promotion.

Holy Grail for all clubs in the district league is a place in the first division, which this season includes giants such as Cumnock and Clydebank who were relegated, as well as clubs with illustrious trophy-laden histories such as Kilwinning Rangers and Rutherglen Glencairn.