PRESTON Athletic manager Craig Nisbet has challenged his team to push clear of the relegation zone in this season’s Lowland League.

The Panners finished just three points off bottom spot in last year’s league, after only three wins from their 26 games.

However, Nisbet, who replaced Colin Jack in the hotseat, is hopeful his new-look team can show signs of improvement, starting this weekend away to Selkirk, managed by former Scotland international Garry O’Connor.

He said: “It is a case of picking up as many points on the road as we can and to try to make the Pennypit quite difficult for opposing teams.

"Selkirk finished above us last season and our main aim is to finish a couple of places higher.

“Everybody wants to see a competitive Preston Athletic team and that is the challenge I have been set by the club.

“We have been fighting relegation for the last couple of years.”

Just half a dozen of the Preston Athletic squad remain from last year, with Nisbet bringing in 14 new signings.

The manager, who previously played for the side, admitted gelling the new players together was the immediate challenge.

He added: “A lot of the teams we are playing against are pretty established.

“They are bringing in two or three players rather than 10.”

The club’s pre-season continued over the weekend with their own annual tournament.

Easthouses Lily were 2-0 winners on Saturday before a strong Cowdenbeath team won 6-1 in the third/fourth-place play-off.

Nisbet said: “We needed to be a bit smarter. We were a bit naïve in conceding goals. Of the four or five friendlies, we have conceded in 45 seconds three times.

“We need to be switched on and focused and, come a competitive game, I think it will be ironed out.”