Largely thanks to the efforts of manager, Michael O'Neill, the club will later this week have 17 players secured for next season's assault on the second division, after fans' favourite, John Ward, penned a new contract on Saturday and versatile Queen's Park player, Steven Canning signs for club this week.

O'Neill said: "Big 'Wardy' has done really well for us again this season. If you look at our results, when he come back into the team, you can count the number of defeats on one hand and I think he has been highly influential in some of those performances. He's also a very popular guy with everyone at the club, from the supporters down to the committee, because he simply gives you 100 per cent week in and week out.

"As for Canning, we have been after him for some time, he has the ability to play all over the place for us. He has scored something like 20 goals in the last couple of seasons for Queen's Park, but he has also played in midfield and at left-back and we are delighted to get him fixed up.

"Contrary to reports in the press through the week, we have not signed the lad on a pre-sontract, he is simply signing for us when he becomes a free agent. I also want to bring in a couple more players, as its vital we get in a wee bit more quality to add to the lads that have done well and are already here."

O'Neill also said that having gone into a 3-1 lead against Champions Ross County, he felt his side would have gone on to win the game. "It was a difficult scenario for the players, we kept getting updates from the stand on how Alloa and Peterhead were doing, but at the same time had to concentrate on our own job and I thought for the majority of the game we did that really well.

"I was very proud of my players. We had a difficult start to the season and we have grown in confidence and stature since the turn of the year. Once again today, we showed the quality that we have had hear and with a little bit of luck we could have scored five or six. There goalkeeper has had four outstanding saves and we have hit the crossbar, so all in all I am quite pleased, but I felt the lads deserved a win bonus!

"We head into the summer in good heart and I'm positive we can do even better next season with the right additions and the right sort of support from the people on the terraces, who I want to thank for following us the length and breadth of the country this season."