JACK Lynch has vowed that Preston Athletic will be up challenging for promotion once again next season.

The Panners had gone into the final game of the season just one point off top spot in East of Scotland Football League (EoSFL) First Division Conference B.

However, despite a 3-1 win over Lochgelly Albert, they missed out, as both Oakley United and Glenrothes also won.

Preston find themselves in the new EoSFL First Division next season, which will also feature county rivals Dunbar United.

Lynch told Courier Sport: “There is no doubt we can be up there challenging.

“We have played lots of Premier Division teams and this is part of why I am so devastated.

“Obviously, if we went into the Premier Division we would add a couple of experienced players but it would not have been a case of a rebuild.

“Maybe two or three players would have been needed.”

East Lothian Courier: Preston Athletic were 3-1 winners over Lochgelly Albert but it was not enough to secure them the First Division Conference B titlePreston Athletic were 3-1 winners over Lochgelly Albert but it was not enough to secure them the First Division Conference B title

Going into the final game of the season, Preston needed to defeat Lochgelly Albert and hope Oakley slipped up at Edinburgh South and Glenrothes dropped points against lowly Newburgh.

In the end, neither opposition result fell in Preston’s favour and the East Lothian team finished one point behind Oakley after winning the same number of games as their Fife rivals.

Ultimately, it was a single dropped point that cost them a place in the top flight of the EoSFL.

The majority of the Pennypit squad have signed on again for next season, with Lynch hopeful the disappointment could be used in a positive manner to spur on the team.

He said: “It is funny because I think Glenrothes went ahead after about four minutes.

“They got their first goal and it was not a case of thinking ‘it can happen’.

“As soon as that happened, I knew they would be too strong for Newburgh.

“Even though Edinburgh South put up a valiant effort against Oakley, they scored after about 70 minutes.

“It was always against us on Saturday and, if I am honest, other results went the way I expected.

“I’m utterly devastated, personally, that we have not won the league.”

East Lothian Courier: Preston Athletic were 3-1 winners over Lochgelly Albert on the last day of the season but fell short of lifting the league titlePreston Athletic were 3-1 winners over Lochgelly Albert on the last day of the season but fell short of lifting the league title

The squad do not have much time to dwell on the disappointment, though.

Lynch spoke to Courier Sport on Tuesday morning, the day after their final training session of the season.

The new EoSFL campaign gets under way on July 30, with pre-season beginning in a matter of weeks.

It means that many in the squad will only have a couple of weeks off before preparations start for another title challenge.

Lynch was unhappy about the quick turnaround and felt there was not enough time for players to recover from a gruelling season.

He said: “I used to like to give players six weeks off to recharge their batteries and go and play golf or tennis or do anything else.

“After that six weeks, they have missed football and got the hunger again.

“The three weeks will go that fast and I just feel sorry for Tranent Juniors.

“They play tonight in the League Cup and then, if they beat Whitehill Welfare, they then go and play on Sunday in the cup final.”