COWDEN will have a full-time element to their squad for the coming season.

Manager Jimmy Nicholl confirmed this week that six players would training full-time along with the modern apprentices that are at Central Park.

Darren Brownlie, Lewis Milne, Jon Robertson, Liam Callaghan, Kyle Miller and Aaron Lynas will be working with the club on a full-time basis.

The manager is delighted to have these players training daily at Central Park and he has had the part-timers in three nights a week and on Saturday as the pre-season training has got into full swing.

Said Mr Nicholl, “It is good to have these lads in working along with the modern apprentices and there could be others as time evolves.

“I must say that the fitness levels of the staff is quite outstanding and they are all looking in great shape, both the full-time and part-time boys.

“They have clearly been looking after themselves and have looked sharp in our early sessions.” The manager is hopeful of fixing up goalkeeping cover this week after having had Robbie Thomson working with the squad since last Monday.

Robbie is 21 and played last season with Rochdale having started as a youth with Celtic.

He also had loan spells with Airdrie and Stenhousemuir and Mr Nicholl has been impressed by him, “Robbie has looked very impressive indeed and I would love to have him on board.

“I will be speaking to him and his people this week and with a bit of luck he will join us which will be another piece in our jigsaw.” He has also been impressed with striker Sean Higgins in training and young front man Craig Johnston, “Sean has looked the part while Craig has also been looking good.

“I have the loan players organised for the strike roles but am still looking around for the right people who could help us in this area of the team, as I search to have in place the sort of strike force to give us the goals we will need this season.” Cowdenbeath start their pre-season friendly programme with a closed doors game against Premiership side Partick Thistle this Saturday in Glasgow. The Jags had a good season last term and finished well out of relegation trouble so they will provide the Fifers with a stiff workout.

“These games are all about getting match fitness up and working on understanding and Thistle will give us a thoroughly good work-out,” he said.

“We will then move on to Blyth Spartans the following week, then Linfield; and finish off with a home game against St Mirren on 22nd July and I am sure that by that time we will be ready for the Challenge Cup and League Cup ties which will follow the next two weekends.” The club is again on the look-out for volunteers to help out with one or two jobs that need doing at Central Park tomorrow (Saturday) to get the ground ready for the big kick-off.

If you can help go along for 10am tomorrow or call 01383 610166.