NEWLY-installed Irvine Meadow co-bosses Gareth Turner and Michael Wardrope today urged fans to be patient as he seeks to revive the famous Ayrshire club’s flagging fortunes.

Medda are on the rebound from a poor season that saw the departure of former boss Davie Greig and a number of key players.

But Turner is optimistic that good times can return to Meadow Park...while issuing a reality check over progress this season.

He said: “Mick and I are in agreement that improvements can be expected, however a return to former glories is likely to be out of reach for the time being.”

Turner made his declaration as he made final preparations for today’s trip to Tayside for a friendly contest against Dundee Violet.

Fans favourites Turner and goalkeeper Wardrope took up the Meadow Park helm just six weeks ago.

Though the one-time midfield ace insists their following up every player recommendation and non-stop pursuit of potential signings has made their tenure feel more like six years.

Their sterling efforts have so far gleaned an array of 14 newcomers though Turner admits there are two or three others in the pipeline on top of a number of trialists who have shown up well in the pre-season training sessions carried out under the watchful eye of coach Neil McGowan (yet another ex-Medda player).

Gareth said: “We are not ones for making predictions lest they come back to bite us, but what Mick and I guarantee is we will have a team of players on the pitch prepared to give everything for Irvine Meadow.

“To this end we have deliberately gone for players we both know and trust from first-hand experience which maybe helps explain why fully five players from the Ardrossan Winton Rovers side we played alongside over the last few seasons have been brought on board.

“And before anyone asks, neither of us has any intention to combine playing and management even though we have registered ourselves in the event of an emergency.

“A lot of trying circumstances lie ahead of our aim to get Irvine Meadow back among the game’s elite and that job is enough to be getting on with for now.”

Among other close-season arrivals at the Irvine club are Ryan Begley(Greenock), Greg Vernon (Darvel), Mark McLelland (Pollok), Stuart Hannah (Kilwinning Rangers), Graham Muir and Mark Murray (Largs Thistle) and latest forward-line acquisition Phil Dolan, only snapped up from Hurlford United last weekend.

Gareth insisted: “Five players from Super Premier Division clubs shows we are going after quality albeit with a much reduced budget at our disposal than previous Medda managers and we also attempted to persuade three players from last season’s relegated team, Paul Maxwell, Gary McCann and Ryan Deas to remain here but they opted to play at the highest level of the game which is perfectly understandable.

“What the guys have to adjust to here is the high expectations surrounding this club despite our falling on leaner times because make no mistake ours will be one of the a much sought after scalps in the Super First Division.

“There are big clubs like Petershill, Clydebank and Shettleston and let’s not forget there is always a surprise package coming to the fore, a bit like Largs Thistle did last season, so we expect the Super First to be one of the most competitive leagues around.”

The trip up to meet Dundee Violet serves the purpose of helping with team bonding, however Gareth has a more personal reason for looking forward to the game.

He revealed: “Violet are actually my first ever Junior club as I went to Dundee University and was persuaded by a classmate Brian Brown (goalkeeper) to come along to training.

“I impressed l enough to get signed and we finished runners-up to Carnoustie Panmure and I ended up as Player of the Year.

“The place holds a lot of great memories for me and I’m keen to visit and meet up with a lot of familiar faces.”

Among today’s Junior fixtures are the Glenafton and Kilbirnie pre-season tournaments which has Loch Park hosting some big gun clashes given the participating clubs for the Joe Meldrum Cup are the Glens, Petershill and Bonnyrigg Rose.

The reigning Robbie Glen holders Rutherglen Glencairn face an intriguing head-to-head against County Durham outfit Shildon (3pm), but only after hosts Kilbirnie get proceedings underway against Wishaw.