Renfrew co-boss Colin Clark insists everyone at the club is counting down the minutes until this weekend’s friendly against Ardrossan Winton Rovers.

With their 2018/19 league campaign coming to a close back in April against Pollok, Frew have been forced into an extended break that has seen them go almost three months without kicking a ball.

And Clark is certain that Saturday’s pre-season outing at Winton Park will provide the perfect opportunity for both himself and co-manager Martin Ferry to instil some much-needed match sharpness within their squad.

Clark said: “We’re all raring to go for our first pre-season friendly this weekend. It’s been a long time since our last match back in April, so we’re looking forward to getting going.

“We’ve been working on our sharpness in training as much as we can but it’s different once the matches start, so we’re all looking forward to it.

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“We’re not looking for anything in particular from the boys this weekend against Ardrossan, it’s purely about getting them all back into the swing of things with the game and getting some vital minutes in the legs.”

“We’re working solely on fitness and sharpness in training right now so that will be the focus on Saturday too. We will start working on shape and formation some time before the Sectional League Cup, but all of our friendlies will be used for finding that sharpness.

The Gazette: Frew's three friendlies in quick succession aimed at getting side back up to speed as soon as possibleFrew's three friendlies in quick succession aimed at getting side back up to speed as soon as possible

“We’ve got three friendlies in the space of a week with Ardrossan on Saturday, Wishaw next Wednesday and then Yoker the following weekend. They were all arranged with a view to getting that sharpness back as quickly as possible after the extended break.”

Elsewhere, Clark revealed Frew have made their second new signing of the summer after Ferry told Gazette Sport last week that work was going on behind the scenes in order to fill the gap left by club captain Kieran Healy leaving for Premiership champions Auchinleck Talbot.

Former Dundee United and Stenhousemuir full-back Ross Gilmour joined from Irvine Victoria at the beginning of the week with Clark admitting there could be one or two more following him in at New Western Park

He added: “We’ve been able bring in Ross from Irvine. He was at Dundee United as a boy and Stenny. He’s 24 now which is a decent age. He’s quite a versatile player, can cover across the back line and move into midfield if needed - that’s the kind of player we were looking for, someone who can fill a few gaps and be quite flexible.

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“He was in Australia for a while and played there but he’s back with work now and we were lucky enough to get him in.

“There’s another one or two we are hopeful of getting over the line soon.”

Ardossan Winton Rovers v Renfrew at Winton Park kicks-off at 2pm this Saturday. 

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