Head coach Bill McDonald stepped down at the end of last season and was replaced with former Burgh coach John Cashmore, while there has also been a number of changes on the playing side of the operation.

The new look team returned to action last weekend with a friendly against Oban, while this weekend they competed with Hillfoots and Loch Lomond in a three way tournament at Ardencaple.

After securing wins against both of their visitors, Simmons said: “We were a bit rusty last week against Oban but we are improving with every game which is what we need ahead of the new season.

“We still have two weeks until the season starts, on September 13 but the team are looking good.” The friendly against Oban was coach Cashmore’s first experience back in the Helensburgh hot seat and 21-year-old Simmons has been impressed with what the new manager has brought to the club.

Simmons believes it will take time for the squad to get used to the new methods of the manager but he is pleased with the way the squad is shaping up, he continued: “When he came in he tried to implement some changes and introduce his own systems — it will take a wee while to get used to the changes and the new players but I think we are playing well and looking good.

“We lost a few players with Sean McNee leaving and a number of others heading off to university but Phil Rogers was going to leave and ended up staying which is great for the team as we know he is a good player. “We have also added Stewart Ross and Alberto, who is a Spanish under-19 internationalist and they both look really good.” The first team are not in action this weekend but are due to start their league campaign the following week at home against Garnock.