Alloa favourite Stephen Simmons says that the whole squad welcome the tag of underdogs again for next season and he can’t wait to prove some of the doubters wrong again.

The fans favourite revealed that he took less than a minute to agree to re-sign for Alloa and now can’t wait to get started for pre-season.

The former Hearts star is looking forward to revisting his old stomping ground at Tynecastle as well as trips to Ibrox and Easter Road next year in the league he believes will be the most exciting in Scotland.

Simmons told Advertiser Sport, “We are certainly underdogs again but we like that and will definitely settle for that tag. When we got promoted the aim was always just to stay up because we knew Rangers and Hearts would likely be there.

“We never knew Hibs would be there but that makes it even better. Most of the lads have never played at these types of grounds so it will be a great experience for them but for me personally it is great to get back playing at Ibrox, Easter Road and of course Tynecastle which I know very well so I am looking forward to it.

“Hibs and Hearts have two of the best pitches in Scotland to play on. The atmosphere at these grounds will be electric and the last time I was back at Tynecastle with Dunfermline I scored so hopefully I can do that again. We may have a fairly young squad but they are fearless and they will go out, play their football and enjoy themselves.

“We are well used to being relegation favourites and underdogs - that will be three years in a row now - and it doesn’t bother us in the slightest and we will look to prove the doubters wrong again.

“I am not saying we are going to win the league but I can assure the fans that we will give our all to keep us in the league and hopefully we can surprise a few.

“I am pleased to re-sign for Alloa and I have enjoyed my time at the club more with every year. I wasn’t looking to go anywhere else and the gaffer only had to ask me once to sign because I am happy at Alloa and it is a brilliant season ahead for us now.” Simmons is delighted to see manager Barry Smith tie up so many of his team mates from last season for another year at the club and he believes that will be to their advantage. But he is also under no illusions that this season will be anything other than the club’s toughest challenge yet.

He said, “The manager has kept a hold of the majority of the boys and that will be important because as a group we went to Pittodrie, played our stuff and held our own so we will take confidence from that. I think this would be a bigger year to stay up and I think it would definitely top last year’s feat.

“I think there will be two leagues within the Championship with the big three and then the rest but we are confident of holding our own in there. Our home games will be vital for us this year.

“I think when we play the big three we have nothing to lose so we will just go and get at them and see what they are made of.” The 31-year-old is delighted to be reunited with former Queen of the South team mate David Weatherston and believes he will be a decent addition but he believes it is vital for the manager to find the Wasps a new goalscorer.

Simmons added, “I am delighted David Weatherston has joined up as well because we played together at QoS and he is exactly the type of talented forward-thinking player we need. He has a few goals in him as well so I am sure he will be a great addition.

“Now the massive thing for us is to find a goalscorer. We found out in the last ten games of last year that we were creating chances but we couldn’t find the net.

“A striker who can score forty odd goals would be nice but if not then it will be down to us all to chip in.”