JOHNSTONE Burgh have been handed a triple boost after three members of last season’s title-winning squad committed their future to the club.

It has been announced that club captain Niall Herron, goalkeeper Stuart Collins and midfielder Darren Watt have agreed to extend their time at Keanie Park.

And Burgh manager Jamie McKim is excited to see how the trio can continue to grow as players as they are put to the test in the newly-formed West of Scotland Football League.

He said: “Stuart was, without doubt, the strongest goalkeeper in the league last year and everybody is looking forward to seeing how he develops this season.

“With the development Niall has had over the last two seasons, this will be another massive test for him, going into a bigger competition, and we’re all looking forward to seeing how he reacts to the challenge as well.

“Darren will probably be a bit disappointed in the amount of games he managed to play last season but we’ll hopefully manage to get the best out of him in the coming season.

“He’s a player who will get people really excited, with the talent and ability he has.”

McKim is also hoping to add some fresh faces to his squad but won’t be unveiling any new recruits while they are still under contract at other clubs.

He said: “I’m not a fan of announcing signings when they’re still contracted to other clubs. It’s just not my style.”

Meanwhile, Burgh have announced an affiliation with amateur outfit Glenvale that will create a pathway for promising youngsters to go all the way to senior football.

The clubs have enjoyed unofficial ties for several years, with a number of players and coaches moving from the Vale to Burgh.

Among those to make the switch are McKim and Herron.

And, last month, it was announced that Glenvale coaches Kyle Reid, Ross Stewart and Michael Donnell were taking charge of the Keanie Park club’s development squad.

The new affiliation will link Burgh with Glenvale’s youth teams, from the 2015 age group upwards.

A Burgh spokesperson said: “We would benefit hugely from being able to access the talent pool at Glenvale, in turn providing an opportunity for players to come into the professional pyramid, with Burgh currently at tier seven.”

Read all the latest from Renfrewshire and beyond

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