FRASER DUNCAN was delighted to add defender Stuart Bell to his Sauchie squad, and revealed he had been chasing the centre-back's signature for almost two years.

Bell has signed from local rivals Camelon and becomes Sauchie's sixth summer signing ahead of their first season back in the Super League.

And Duncan is hoping his new signing's experience can prove to be a defining factor as his side look to re-establish themselves in the top division.

He told Advertiser Sport: "I was chasing Stuart last year and the year before, even before he went to Camelon.

"He's the kind of player you always want to bring in. I'm sure he won't mind me saying he would tackle his granny, which is the kind of person we are needing.

"Stuart will bring us some much-needed experience, which will be valuable because we do have a young squad this year.

"He is here for the long term and we want to build the team around players like Stuart and I feel we are starting to see that pay off now.

"Stuart will bring defensive qualities but he's also a goal threat at the other end. When he's played against us we have always had to look out for him, and that's a great attribute for a centre-half.

"I want Stuart to be a leader at the back for us, so I am piling the pressure on him. We do now have an experienced spine of the team, and a lot of good young players round about them.

"Those young lads are not just there to make up the numbers – they'll work hard and stake their own claims for their places in the team."

The central defender became Fraser Duncan’s sixth summer recruit after joining from rivals Camelon, and will go straight into the squad for the opening day trip to Broughty Athletic on Saturday.

Bell couldn’t hide his excitement at the prospect of getting back to playing competitive football.

He added: “I can’t wait to get started. It’s a new start for me so hopefully we can start well and get a few good results on the board.

"I’m coming across the water from Camelon and I’m really excited to get going.

“I’m really excited for the start of the competitive league season now.

"We’ve got our first game on Saturday up at Broughty, which will obviously be a tough tie, but it’s one we’re ready for. We are all looking forward to playing competitive football again.”

Meanwhile, Duncan admitted that he is fed up of pre-season friendlies, and urged the East Region Junior FA to re-introduce the league cup in an effort to give teams more competitive games before the start of the league season.

He said: "Pre-season is doing my head in at the minute to be honest, because we aren't getting competitive games. One of the things we need is for the league cup to be reinstated. That gave you five or six games to get up to speed and we could have really done with that this season. I'd much rather have that than travel about different pitches playing friendlies."

The Beechwood Park side travel to Broughty on Saturday for their first encounter of the season, and Duncan is looking for a repeat of his side's shock 4-0 victory in last season's Scottish Cup.

He added: "Broughty will have been planning for as long as we have over the summer and they'll be itching to get one over us after we beat them last season, particularly as we are a newly-promoted club.

"But I've always said we should never have been out of this division, and after the good season we had last year we've only added more quality.

"The fight starts on Saturday at half past two and it doesn't end until the last game of the season.

"We don't want to be down the bottom of the table fighting for our lives, and I don't think we will be, but we have got to start on the right note.

"There are no mugs in the Super League so we have to be ready on Saturday."