NEW Haddington Athletic manager Davie McGlynn believes that the Hi Hi’s squad needs strengthened in almost every department ahead of next season.

McGlynn took over from Brian Johnston in the Millfield dugout last week, with his first game in charge the 4-2 home defeat to Whitburn Juniors on Saturday.

And the former Musselburgh Athletic boss believes there is significant recruitment work to be done over the summer if the Hi Hi are to move away from the relegation zone in the East Premier League.

He told Courier Sport: “We only just avoided relegation this year by putting a bit of a run together.

“We’ve stayed up by the skin of our teeth so we can’t kid ourselves that the squad is good enough.

“There is the nucleus of a good team there, but we need to go and strengthen the squad.”

McGlynn, who guided Linlithgow Rose to the last 16 of the William Hill Scottish Cup in the 2015/16 season, also explained how his appointment came about.

“I’ve known Brian [Johnston, former manager] for a long time,” he said.

“He asked me to come and help out when I left Linlithgow but I couldn’t commit to anything then.

“I came back in January and about 10 games ago against Whitburn I was in the dugout and there’s been a big difference in the performances.

“The players have been more professional and they’ve got fitter – they’ve really bought into what I’m asking them to do.”

When Johnston indicated he no longer wanted to manage the side, that meant McGlynn taking the job on a permanent basis.

“I’ve enjoyed it – the players are a good bunch of boys,” said McGlynn, who spent nearly a decade in charge of county rivals Burgh.

Club president Drew Donaldson thanked Johnston for his part in ensuring the club’s place in the East Premier League for next season.

He told Courier Sport: “Brian and his team [former co-manager Kevin Twaddle and coach Craig Yule] worked hard to assemble a squad to start the season despite having little time.

“He was asked to consolidate our position in the Premier League and that has been achieved.

“Brian has a lot to offer the club and he will still be at the club next season.”

The Hi Hi president said that appointing McGlynn – who guided Burgh to the Scottish Junior Cup final in 2011 – was a “real feather in the cap for the club”.

Donaldson added: “David has an excellent track record in management, latterly with Linlithgow Rose, where he took them to the last 16 of the William Hill Scottish Cup, where they were narrowly beaten by Ross County.

“He knows what it takes to play in the Superleague and is the ideal person to fulfil the club’s ambitions of competing at that level.”

Meanwhile, former Tranent Juniors and Ormiston boss Johnston, who replaced Johnny Harvey at Millfield last summer, will take a committee role at the club from next season.