You don't have to be Larnian to play for Rangers

Sammy said: “I have heard the talk about Newington wanting to go back to their roots and having more of a Larne base, but quite a few of the team are from Carrick and I’m very keen to keep them on board. Sure, our second team manager Jimmy Johnstone is from Carrick, he has already brought players to the club and I very much want to keep that Carrick connection going.

“And why would you want to cut your options by just having players from Larne when all the other clubs in Larne are chasing the same players. You have to broaden your horizons and when we’ve got good players from Carrick already here, why on earth would I want to lose them?

“I know there’s at least a few players joining Stuart Pike at Moyola Park, so I’ll need to bring a few in.

“The basis of a good team is already there, if they stay, but I’ve got the likes of Geordie Lynn and James Brownlee, two key players, already signed up. We’ve started training and things are looking good. We even had Northern Ireland international Jeff Hughes doing a session with us.

“We’ve got friendlies lined up at home to a Scottish team (July 24) and Ballyclare Comrades July 31) and we have to arrange a date with Banbridge Town. I’m also hoping to take the team to Drumaness, where I was at the end of last season, along with big Graham McConnell

“I’m looking forward to it and things are looking good so far. I want to go out there and push and see how far up the league we can go. There will be some good teams in 1c this season, with the likes of Crumlin Star coming in, but I’d like to think we’d be up there challenging, there or thereabouts – depending on what players stay, and who I can bring in.”

Sammy’s new assistant will be Steven Spence, who was with Larne Tech Old Boys II last season. Jimmy Johnstone will continue as second team manager.