Following an excellent five year spell from 2009 that delivered 5th, 6th, 3rd, 2nd and 2nd finishes we hit a low point in 2014/15 at 11th and needed a play-off win to maintain top flight status. Last season looked bleak until a spring revival under a new manager led us to 5th place.
By any reasonable interpretation of recent history there should be an expectation that we will earn a top half berth when the new season ends in May 2017. But we know that football often pays scant attention to the odds.
As with most of our competitors we will start the new season with a refreshed squad. Ben Hall, Stephen Pearson, Jack Leitch, David Clarkson, Josh Law, Wes Fletcher have departed and Connor Ripley’s loan spell has ended. Replacements include Craig Samson and Dean Brill as a goalkeeping duo together with defenders Richard Tait and Ben Heneghan, midfielder Carl McHugh and striker Jacob Blyth.
Tait and Heneghan have already shown their worth in the Betfred games while we await McHugh and Blyth reaching match fitness. Craig Clay has played as a trialist and the manager seems keen to use his talents in the centre of the team.
Johnson and Cadden have been the stand out players in the early games and we will be fortunate to keep the pair beyond the end of the summer transfer window. McDonald is short of his best but he keeps popping up to score.
The season is bound to provide the usual mix of surprises, good and bad. The anticipation that comes with the start of a new league campaign should allow us to be positive as there will be plenty of opportunity for negative thoughts during the inevitable low points.
A final place above mid-table mediocrity will be cheered while any outcome that delivers another season in the Premiership will be clutched with relief.