Abbey Vale boss reckons South of Scotland League champions will have a target on their back

Abbey Vale boss Allan Clark reckons his side will have a target on their back this season.

The New Abbey side go into the new campaign on the back of their first ever Utility Hut South of Scotland League title.

And that could see other teams aiming to claim a scalp when they face the Maryfield Park outfit.

Clark said: “We’re going in as league champions which’ll make it harder as everybody will be trying to knock us off their game.

“Everyone will raise their game – I know we did that against previous league champions. You look for that game and want to go and beat them. Every team will be the same against us.

“It’ll be hard but with the squad we’ve got and who we’ve added it’s good enough to be up there come the end of the season.

“We’d love to be up there come the end of the season but a lot of teams that were up there last season have strengthened quite well.

“We know it’s going to be very difficult to retain the league but we’ll give it our best shot.”

Vale begin their campaign at home against Dalbeattie Star on Saturday.

Star are back in the South following their relegation from the Lowland League last season.

Clark said: “A lot of teams will be tough and Dalbeattie is one of them.

“It’s a home tie for us and we’ll look to use home advantage but it’s definitely a tough start.

“We have a tough start in the league and Saturday is one of the tougher ones. They’ve added experience with boys who’ve won the league before.

“Eddie Warwick will have them well drilled, we’re under no illusions it’ll be a hard, hard game but it’s one we’re looking forward to.

“It should be a good game for the neutral.”

Vale finished their pre-season preparations on Saturday with their traditional friendly against