Arthurlie manager Colin Reilly admits he breathed a "big sigh of relief" after it was confirmed his team will be playing Premier Division football next season.

Troon’s victory over Kilwinning Rangers last Wednesday night meant the Barrhead club would be safe from relegation, regardless of the outcome of their match at home to Glenafton on Saturday.

Arthurlie raced into a 2-0 lead after just six minutes of that game, courtesy of goals from Dale Simeon and Lee Roulston, but the visitors levelled before the break as Scott McLean and Alex McWaters found the net.

Dylan O’Kane then put Glenafton ahead on 73 minutes, with Shuggy Kerr sealing the win with 10 minutes to go.

Results elsewhere on the final day of the Premier Division campaign meant that Arthurlie finished just two points clear of the relegation zone but Reilly admits Saturday’s result didn’t bother him too much.

He told Barrhead Sport: “It was job done on Wednesday night. A lot of us went down to watch the Troon against Kilwinning game, so it was a big sigh of relief.

“We have put a bit of pressure on the boys and worked them really hard, so training on Thursday was just a bit of a wind down and a bit of fun and enjoyment in the session.

“We went into Saturday’s game knowing we were already safe but we still wanted to go out on a high.

"We started the game really well and maybe became a wee bit complacent.

“I didn’t even speak about Saturday after the game. The players have worked hard.”

Reilly is also pleased to have signed key members of his squad for next season.

Roulston, Michael MacNeil, Jordan Leyden, Conor Bradley, Lewis Magee and club captain Gary Carroll have committed their future to the club, with plenty of new arrivals expected in the coming weeks.

Reilly said: “We’ve kept the spine of the team and I think it’s important to do that.

“I always say if you have your roots then your tree can grow, so that means having the spine right and then adding more quality around the existing players.

“We’re only going to retain eight players, so we’ll be looking to add 11 or 12 over the course of the next couple of weeks.”