THE trapdoor has creaked open and a new club has crept up the ladder and into the Scottish senior set-up via the play-offs for the first time. How Edinburgh City perform in their maiden League 2 season will serve as a handy barometer for measuring the gulf – if any – between the lower reaches of the senior game and the upper echelons of the Highland and Lowland leagues. Should they thrive at this level, it will also offer encouragement to those with a vision of doing similar. The recent acquisition of Craig Beattie, the former Hearts, Celtic and Scotland striker, will catch the eye, but it is their ability to tap into the army of part-time players settled in the capital that might prove to be their biggest asset.

Cowdenbeath and Forfar will look to bounce back following relegation from League 1. Liam Fox, manager of the former, looks an interesting appointment aged just 32 and he has used his Hearts connections to make a raft of signings, including highly-rated striker Nikolay Todorov. Forfar have introduced nine new faces, including Grant Adam the erstwhile Rangers youth goalkeeper.

Looking to avoid following East Stirlingshire out of the league will be Arbroath and Montrose who finished ninth and eight respectively last season.