New Helensburgh Rugby Club captain Johnny Drake says the club's aim is to be comfortably mid-table by the end of the season.

Helensburgh escaped relegation last year by the skin of their teeth and the scrum-half is hoping some breathing space this year is the team's goal.

The Grizzlies kick-off their league campaign at home to Garnock on Saturday, August 27.

He said: "We just want to be comfortably mid-table, to stay well out from relegation and to have no worries about getting pulled down at all.

"We've set targets as a team - we're trying to win 75 per cent of our home games and 33 per cent of away games so if we get that we'll easily be fine."

And the captain is hoping that the culture around the club can also change, not just looking for on the pitch improvements.

He added: "We just want to become more of a cub and a unit now, we're trying to build more around the club now to try and get everyone involved.

"It's not just about rugby, and we're trying to work with the woman's club as well and just to try and get everyone together and get a good club atmosphere so we enjoy working together and will work hard for each other.

And Drake has said that more numbers down at training has helped, and bringing Adam Hart in as the new head coach for the rugby club, bringing fresh ideas to training.

He said: "We've made a lot f changes this season, we're trying to have more fun, and training is a lot more fun, there's been much better numbers, and so far everyone seems to be enjoying it.

"We've not just been doing the old pre-season, running all session so it's been more rugby based, the ball in your hands right from the off and more fun and games so you're constantly thinking while you're doing your fitness instead of running all day and getting sick of it so far it seems to be working really well.

The Advertiser reported that last week Ally Rogers had departed the club, we'd like to correct that and he has stepped down as captain due to work commitments, but is still playing for the club.