TRANENT football star Dean Brett has set his sights on a return to League One with Cowdenbeath this season.

The county ace captained the Fife outfit as they finished second bottom of the third tier, before losing their two-leg play-off semi-final to Queen's Park, who finished fourth in the division below.

That condemned them to a second relegation in as many seasons, and saw player/manager Colin Nish leave Central Park after a year in the dugout.

Liam Fox replaced him, and skipper Brett was among those to turn down offers from elsewhere to stay on.

The 23-year-old is keen to help the club get back to League One at the first attempt.

He told Courier Sport: "Pre-season has been the hardest one I've ever had, but I suppose it's all worth it in the end.

"There's been a lot of changes in the squad since last year so the mood in the camp has been quite good."

After a busy pre-season schedule, Cowden, nicknamed the Blue Brazil, got their season off the mark with a Betfred Cup tie against Inverness Caledonian Thistle on Saturday.

Ross Draper had given Inverness the lead, before Brett equalised, but Gary Warren struck to give the visitors the three points.

Despite defeat, Brett is looking forward to the League Two opener, against Elgin on August 6.

"We've played really well against Premiership teams, so we're all really looking forward to the season.

"We can't wait to get started now."

The 23-year-old full-back has been joined on the journeys to Central Park by Kris Renton, brother of Musselburgh Athletic's Kieron.

Brett added: "He's in here now, so there's about six or seven of us from the area all travel up, so we've got to take two cars.

"Where were they all when I had to take two buses and two trains?"

And the skipper is keen to get his hands on the league title next May.

"We would take promotion just now, but with the squad we've brought together, winning the league is definitely our target."