Paisley Pirates are busy preparing for the upcoming SNL season, with their first signings giving the squad a definite family feel to proceedings.

Ian Turley is back as Player/Coach, his brother Chris has also been added to the roster, while Ian Turley snr continues as Team Manager.

Pirates claimed the Scottish Cup in 2015/16 and Turley jnr is hoping to build on that success this time around.

“We’re talking to other players who’ve expressed a desire to come and play for the Scottish Cup holders, and we had a few people along at our first training session this week who weren’t in the squad last year,” said Turley.

“I’m hopeful we’ll have a competitive team put together by the time the serious stuff starts in about a month, with our usual mixture of returning players and a few new faces.

“It’s going to be a very important year for the club on a number of fronts. We’re hopeful that we can repeat our cup success and perhaps improve on our runners-up spot in the league.

“Off the ice we’ve got a number of initiatives aimed at keeping the Pirates financially stable, within an environment where there are pressures on us all the time.

“I know the Supporters Club have a couple of dates in the diary already and it’s absolutely vital that fans get behind the events to keep the flow of money coming.

“We’ll be talking a bit more about that at the Fans’ Forum on Wednesday, 10th August.

“I think it will be a very informative meeting, so we’re hoping there there’s a large turnout so that a few things can be explained to supporters.”

(Image permission: Al Goold Photo)