FIRST DIVISION

Inverness Caledonian Thistle manager John Robertson managed to negotiate his way out of the First Division last season. Below, he tells the Sunday Herald he is having equal difficulty predicting this year's title race, although he does foretell another Highland success story ...

1. Ross County If ever there is a year they are going to go up then this is it. They have thrown a hell of a lot of money at it - signing Gary McSwegan and Sean Kilgannon with SPL experience - and have still got guys like Jamie McCunnie and Jim Lauchlan there from last season. In the past they have followed everything that Inverness have done about a season later and I hope they can become the second team from the Highlands in the SPL.

2/3/4 = Partick Thistle They have also retained most of their players from last season - I think they've only really lost James Grady and David Rowson from the first team - and have brought in Steve Fulton. But I really think it is impossible to separate the next few teams because they all have strengthened.

2/3/4 = St Johnstone They've got a new manager with new ideas in John Connolly and he has managed to sign Michael Moore from Stranraer, who was a player that we looked at but were just unable to pay the transfer fee at this stage. He scored goals in the Third Division last year, and scored goals in pre-season, so I'm sure he will score goals next season - as will Chris Hay.

2/3/4 = Falkirk John Hughes bemoaned the lack of goals last year but he has attempted to remedy that by bringing in Darryl Duffy from Rangers and Andy Thomson from Partick to supplement what they already have. With the added factor of moving into their new stadium, they are sure to be up there.

5. St Mirren Gus MacPherson managed to get the team to improve dramatically towards the end of last season, so if he can keep that going then they should have another good campaign. His team have a decent spine but maybe need a goalscorer.

6. Queen of the South Iain Scott has gone in and used his knowledge of the north of England league to sign guys such as David McNiven and Chris Scott. Being part time doesn't do them any favours but they are always tough to beat at Palmerston.

7. Clyde Billy Reid has got a hard job to lift the disappointment of last season, although he has brought in Gary Arbuckle from Celtic up front and he is a good player. Although they've lost players from last time - and will probably lose Ian Harty before the start of the season - they've still got a few who went so close last season.

8/9/10 = Hamilton It is going to be difficult for Hamilton, even though they have some clever players like Brian McPhee and have strengthened wisely with Pat Keogh and Mark McLaughlin from Clyde. It will be hard as one of the only part-time teams but if anyone can manage it successfully it will be Ronnie McDonald.

8/9/10 = Airdrie It is virtually impossible to predict the precise positions of these teams apart from being a block at the top of the league and a block fighting it out at the bottom. Airdrie have obviously got Owen Coyle and he knows how to score goals at this level, but some of their younger players might find it difficult to adjust.

8/9/10 = Raith ROVERS They are an unknown quantity, they could finish 10th or first. Claude Anelka, with all his contacts, will be bringing in outsiders who will be desperate to impress but you have to ask what will happen around Christmas time if they get some offers.

Copyright 2004 SMG Sunday Newspapers Ltd.
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