EAST Ayrshire is set for the return of competitive football action this weekend.
Various sides from across the region will get their latest league season underway on Saturday, July 26.
The coming campaign is likely to bring a different feel - with impending reconstruction meaning major changes to the promotion picture, and no fear of relegation.
Though it is unlikely to take away from the thrills and passion which non-league, or 'the juniors' brings to the region.
Here is - briefly - what to expect when local West of Scotland Football League teams make their return.
Auchinleck Talbot
Last season was another impressive campaign for Tommy Sloan and his Talbot side.
The Beechwood Park outfit finished second place in the Premier Division for the fourth consecutive year - missing out on the title to an impressive Clydebank side.
Though, in true Auchinleck fashion, the campaign also brought silverware in the form of the WoSFL Cup.
Sloan has added a handful of new faces so far to his squad ahead of the coming campaign - most recently in the form of defender Kieren Wood, who joined from Gartcairn.
Prior to this, the club welcomed the arrival of Robbie Scullion from Beith and goalkeepers Wullie Muir and Dylan Brown - from Lanark United and on loan from Kilmarnock respectively.
Talbot will commence their season on Saturday with a short trip across East Ayrshire to face Hurlford United at Blair Park.
Cumnock Juniors
Last season was a rollercoaster for Cumnock - who started last season with a challenging run of form.
But an end of season revival saw Stephen Swift's side turn a corner, ending the campaign in a tied highest Premier Division finish of seventh place.
The Townhead Park club had some early cup exits but did make the quarter-final of the South Challenge Cup, only being defeated on penalties by eventual winners East Kilbride.
Swift will be confident of building on the end of last season - welcoming a number of new additions to his squad.
Adam Forde, Alex McCaw, Grant Gallagher, Lee Roulston, Calum McEwan, Andrew McDonald and Tomas Brindley have all been added to the club's ranks over the summer.
Despite the departure of some experienced players, it is business which the manager was pleased to get over the line.
Cumnock will hope their new signings bode well when the season gets underway at home to Largs Thistle on Saturday.
Glenafton Athletic
The Glens will certainly be hoping for a smoother start to this season than they had this time last year.
Ryan Caddis left the club early in the campaign after less than a year in the Loch Park hotseat.
Paul Paton came in as his replacement and proved to be successful in his first management role.
The New Cumnock side comfortably navigated their way to a 10th place finish in the Premier Division - well clear of the relegation zone.
Despite some early cup exits, the club did manage a run to the fifth round of the Scottish Junior Cup, before losing to eventual runners-up Tranent.
Paton has added Calum Wilson, Lee Duncanson, Blair Anderson, David Craig and James Hart to his squad for the coming campaign - and has put his players through their paces with pre-season tests against Queen of the South and Partick Thistle.
He will hope this proves fruitful when competitive action commences with a trip to Shotts Bon Accord.
Muirkirk Juniors
Last season will be a hard one to top for Muirkirk Juniors - who earned promotion for the first time in 41 years.
It was a nerve-wracking end to the campaign to get there but Ross Cusick's side are now preparing for a new test in the First Division.
Although it will be a step up, the Burnside Park club showed plenty of what they were capable of in cup contests last season.
Most notably they enjoyed a run to the WoSFL Cup quarter-final before being knocked out by eventual winners Auchinleck Talbot.
Cusick has added just two new faces so far ahead of the new season in the form of Ally Taylor and Shaun Fraser.
Though the Kirk boss was delighted to maintain the majority of his promotion winning squad from last campaign.
Muirkirk will hope to make a positive start to the season when they travel to face Irvine Meadow on Saturday.
Lugar Boswell Thistle
Last season was full of ups and downs for fans of Lugar Boswell Thistle.
The club achieved some spectacular highs during their Third Division campaign before boss George Wallace departed at the beginning of this year.
Before heading to the exit door, Wallace also guided the club on a memorable Scottish Junior Cup run - which was ultimately ended by Benburb at the fifth round stage.
Chris Vance took charge of the Jaggy Bunnets to the end of the campaign - guiding the side to a 11th place finish.
A poor end to the season ultimately ended what at one stage seemed like an unlikely promotion push.
Stuart MacDuff has now assumed the role as manager, bringing wholesale changes ahead of his first competitive match in charge.
Eight players, many long-serving, have departed over the summer - though mainstays Adam Lowe, Jamie Donnelly, Nathan Murray, Craig McLean and Kieran Oliver have all extended their stays in East Ayrshire.
MacDuff has also added Jordan McBride and Lennon Houston to his existing squad so far.
Lugar will commence the new Third Division season at home to Glasgow University this Saturday.
Kello Rovers
Kello Rovers were another club to enjoy a memorable campaign last season.
After relegation from the Third Division in 2023/24 - the Nithside Park outfit bounced straight back with a third place finish enough the earn promotion from the Fourth Division.
It was a battle to the end but a win on the penultimate day of the season ultimately secured their immediate return.
Very little pre-season news has been made public by the club since the end of last campaign - though one major change has been announced.
It was confirmed last month that boss Greg Gallagher had left his role after a three-year spell in Kirkconnel.
Though it will still be a familiar face guiding the Super K next season, with former assistant Craig 'Razor' Dunlop stepping up as his replacement.
He will take charge of the club in competitive action for the first time on Saturday - and mark his side's Third Division return - when Kello make the trip to South Ayrshire to face Girvan.
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