Alloa goal-hero Eddie Ferns revealed his surprise at being offered a new deal at the club by new boss Danny Lennon, but is ready to grab his second chance with both hands.

The rejuvenated Wasps’ star, who scored a double in the 2-0 win over Highland League outfit Keith last weekend, did not expect to return be returning to Clackmannanshire this summer after falling out of favour under previous boss Barry Smith last season.

But now the speedy forward is now determined to repay his new gaffer for giving him a second chance of becoming a first team hit at the Indodrill Stadium.

Ferns told Advertiser sport: “Last weekend was my first 90 minutes since I came back from holiday. I was late in coming back so I am still really playing catch up with the rest of the guys.

“I was out in Las Vegas and Cancun when the boys were all back getting stuck into pre-season, but I have been trying to put in a few double sessions during the week to make up some ground. It is a bit of a second chance for me at the club.

“Once I went out on loan, and while I had a good loan period winning the league with Albion Rovers, I didn’t really think I would be back after the summer. The gaffer was impressed with the training sessions I had done with the lads in the build up to the play-off games and luckily enough for me he offered me a deal. I am aiming to grab the chance this time around and do all I can to impress the gaffer.” Ferns caught the eye in the Wasps 2-0 friendly win with a mesmerising sole display and despite being chuffed with his own performance, he believes it is down to how quickly the new-look team has bonded together.

He said: “I was delighted to get the goals against Keith and it could quite easily have been a hat-trick or more with the other chances I had. My effort off the bar looked like it might have been in, but the referee never gave it so I will just have to settle for the double and the victory.

“It was sad to see so many of the lads leave from last season, but all of the players who have came in seem to be getting on really well. It is unusual for a team to stay together that long in the modern game especially at part time level, but all the new lads have gelled really quickly and so that can only be a good thing going into the season.” The former Drumchapel United player reckons Alloa have all the ingredients to cause a few upsets once again in the SPFL Championship this coming season and he hopes to be a big part of it this time around.

Ferns added: “I think we could really surprise a few teams this season with style of play that the gaffer wants us to play. The majority of the teams in the league are full time against so we will need to be at peak fitness to pull it off, but I am confident we can do it.

“I am just looking to grab some more first team games this time around. I felt like I never really got a fair run in the team last time around before I went out on loan so hopefully this time I can do my bit and chip in with a few goals.”