JOHNSTONE Burgh boss Jamie McKim is set for another difficult summer after his young guns attracted Premier Division attention. 

The Keanie Park side impressed in the inaugural season of the West of Scotland Football League as they were third in Conference B before the campaign was declared null and void earlier this month.

That came on the back of a title-winning 2019/20 campaign and after going through the entirety of last year without suffering defeat, the Burgh boss has moved to secure the signatures of more than a dozen members of last season’s squad.

However, question marks still remain over the future of a number of players and McKim is not surprised at the attention that’s coming his side’s way after their recent successes. 

Speaking to Gazette Sport, he said: “We started planning in January for next season and I think we’ve got 14 signed up already with discussions going on with a few others. 

“You need to keep an eye on it all the time because you don’t want to get to the end of the season and the majority of the boys are looking elsewhere. 

“Unsurprisingly, there’s a lot of clubs trying to get some of the boys with offers from Premier League clubs so it’s going to be tough. 

“We don’t pay the boys a weekly wage or anything so it’s going to be tough for us but I’ve every confidence we can build a squad that’s going to compete.”

McKim’s philosophy of signing talented youngsters has paid off in recent years, with the likes of Niall Herron and Sam Esplin catching the eye over the past few seasons.

The Burgh boss admits that’s something that isn’t going to change, despite the fact he fears he may lose key members of his squad. 

He added: “We’re seen as a club that’s not going to go out and sign the best, most experienced players – we’re looking for young, upcoming players that have the ability but are just missing the experience and we add that.

“I don’t want to lose anybody at the moment but it’s natural some of the better players might move on and even some of the squad players. There will be a bit of movement but hopefully not too much.”