Wasps all set for the league opener

Iain Robertson • Published 4 Aug 2010 09:30 0 Comments

ALLOA Athletic assistant manager James Ward says he can't wait for Saturday's league opener away to title favourites Livingston.

Buoyed by the club's summer signing spree, he believes the Wasps are in great shape to take on the only full-time team in the Second Division.

He told Advertiser Sport, "We really can't wait to get started, the lads are raring to go, and we may as well kick-off playing against the league favourites."

Ward, who expects an open game at Almondvale Stadium, added, "Our boys are in really good shape for it, and we're happy with the balance that now exists in the squad."

Former Dundee United and Rangers player Gary Bollan is in charge at Livingston, and Ward knows last season's Third Division champions will be fired up for the occasion, as they set out to prove they are good enough to win consecutive league titles.

He added, "Livingston will be unfurling the Third Division championship flag on Saturday and will be desperate to show they are capable of securing back-to-back titles."

But Wasps supporters will be looking for Bollan's boys to continue their recent losing streak when their heroes take to the pitch on Saturday.

The West Lothian side exited the Co-operative League Cup last weekend at Ross County and were knocked out of the ALBA Challenge Cup by Queen's Park the week before.

First game aside, though, Ward believes Alloa have the quality to be challenging the Lions for top spot in the league come the end of the campaign, and says he and gaffer Allan Maitland wouldn't be at the club if they didn't think that was a realistic goal.

That will be just what the Wasps fans - who watched their side agonisingly miss out on the league title last term to local rivals Stirling Albion on goal difference - want to hear.

To help make that an achievable target, the Wasps management team have been working tirelessly through the summer months, bringing in new faces to bolster a squad that was threadbare at times last season.

And winger Dougie 'Jinky' Wilson, who recently signed a new 12 month contract at Recreation Park, reckons that could be key in helping Alloa to go on and win the league this time.

He said, "That's what the boys are aiming for, and it will make a big difference to have greater strength in depth this season. At times last term we had to rely too heavily on youth players when some of the first team guys were out injured, and that cost us."

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