By grabar
August 11 2009

After an exciting and competitive pre-season in the Europa Cup Saturday sees the start of the SPL season again, the first under new manager Jim Gannon.

We have had a unique pre-season where we have been able to play six competitive games in the Europa League rather than the usual meaningless friendlies.

This should mean the re-shaped team that Jim Gannon is putting together should be ready for the fight, this is really necessary this summer given the major change to the side since Mark McGhee left.

Out has gone Graeme Smith, Paul Quinn, Stephen Hughes, David Clarkson, Bob Malcolm, Brian McLean etc, while Jim Gannon has brought in John Ruddy, Steve Jennings, Chris Humprhy and Giles Coke along with Michael Fraser who had already been brought in.

They have been complemented by youngsters such as Paul Slane, Shaun Hutchinson and Ross Forbes (why did McGhee loan him out last season??).

Gannon has also seen through some of the established squad players and ruffled some feathers when he dropped McGarry, Lasley and Hammell recently. It also looks as though he is prepared ot let Fitzpatick and Darren Smith leave as they are not up to his standard.

Given this amount of change I can't see Well having that great a season and anything above 11th will be considered a success.