COWDENBEATH'S board feels that things are starting to head down a more positive route now with League 2 clubs rubber stamping the October 17 start date.

With fixtures expected to come out within the next few days, two top young prospects putting pen to paper on pro terms for the Blues, and a top class defender putting pen to paper, things are much more positive than a few weeks back.

On Thursday Jacob Glass and Lewis Owens, having just turned 17, signed 'pro' for Cowden, and manager Gary Bollan has very high hopes for both young starlets, and he was even happier, when on Friday, Albion Rovers defender Ross Clarke, put pen to paper.

Ross (24) was with Albion last season and was named as Player of the Year by the Cliftonhill club. Mr Bollan has had his eye on Ross for some time and is delighted the right-back chose Cowden.

Club secretary, David Allan, was involved in the signings of Jacob and Lewis and he is hopeful that at least another quality young player will come from the same source.

He said: "Certainly things are starting to happen now and the fact that fixtures will soon be with us means that we have been able to look at how we are going to deal with the distribution of season tickets.

"I would hope that we can have details of the pricing structure in the hands' of fans soon."

David said that the latest information received suggested that there could be three Betfred League Cup games before the first league game.

"Tuesdays October 6 and 13 look to be Betfred dates, while Saturday October 10 is an international Saturday, so we could have three fixtures in that competition before the league starts on the 17th," he went on.

"Things certainly are feeling much more positive and we have had the opportunity to speak to our furloughed players and get their take on how they have been handling the lockdown and their thoughts on the new season, which has been very interesting."

Manager Bollan has been very keen to keep the players who are currently on furlough and he has also been thinking about possible recruits to strengthen the squad for the 27 game season.

Added the secretary: "Due to the rules of the furlough scheme Gary can't himself approach the players, who like him are on the scheme, however, the directors can so that might be a route we will look to go down in the coming days.

"Also the transfer window opens very soon and clearly the club will be looking to try to strengthen the squad so it looks like things are going to get busier very soon and it was great to sign Ross Clarke on Friday."

Meanwhile the Court of Session case involving Hearts and Partick Thistle has now been referred to arbitration

The presiding judge acknowledged that time is of the essence, with the new Premiership season set to kick-off on August 1, and it is expected that the arbitration process will start within days and should be complete within a couple of weeks.