Enniskillen Athletic joint manager Anthony Fitzpatrick is expecting his side to be among the front runners for promotion in Division Three this season.

A points deduction for a breach of player registration regulations cost Athletic heavily last season but they are keen to be in that hunt at the top of the end this time around and are tipped by many as the team to beat this season.

“Our goal this year would be to push for promotion and get up to Division Two. We have added some good players and we have a decent squad which is what you need,” said Fitzpatrick. Athletic have strengthened over the summer with the additions of Peter Phair, Ronan Beattie and Christopher Corrigan to their squad and with the likes of joint manager Paul Crane, captain Bryan Owens and Neil McDermott all key players they will be determined to push on at the top end of the table this season.

Ballygawley were contenders throughout last season and should be in the mix again while Lisnarick were also in the hunt for long periods of last season although manager Steven Ormsby does not believe that they will be able to put up a challenge in the forthcoming campaign which starts on Saturday at home to Athletic.

“We have lost a few players and I don’t think that we are going to be in a position to challenge for promotion. We are down to the bare bones at the minute because of players having gaelic commitments and the important thing for us is just to get over these first few weeks,” he said.

Enniskillen Galaxy have appointed the experienced Damian Love as manager and he is keen to move the club forward.

“We’ll be hoping to do better than last year and just build on things. I refereed some Division Three games last season and at times there is very little between the sides and if we can get commitment from the boys and they work hard then they will do fine,” he said.

Love has boosted the Galaxy ranks with the addition of Paddy Beresford from Rangers as well as Michael Dooris and goalkeeper Jack Kelly and with the likes of Gavin and Ronan McGinn and Kyle Carrothers they could well give teams trouble this season.

Orchard Farm are now under the management of Gary Beacom and they will be aiming to be as competitive as possible in the division. Beacom has brought in quality in the shape of Lee Farrell and Craig Johnston while Garbhan McManus committing for the season is a big plus for the Farm.

Fivemiletown IIs will be hoping for a better season than last time around but Davy McQuigg is realistic in his expectations. “We have struggled over the last couple of years but we will look to re-organise, get them into a better shape and a mid-table finosh would be more than acceptable.”

Augher Stars are the new boys to the league and they will be aiming to make an instant impact.

And then you have last season’s relegated pair, St. Pat’s and Drumquin will be looking to bounce back at the first attempt.