SURVIVAL in the McBookie Championship is everything, Irvine Victoria boss Brian McLuckie admitted on the eve of the new league season.


The Westenders begin their campaign away to Dalry Thistle, although the boss would have preferred a different challenge.


He said: "I would much rather have had one of the shining lights - Darvel away for instance in the first game. Dalry are going to be in a wee group round about or just above us. It will be a hard match so anything we get from there we will be delighted with.


"Our target is avoiding relegation and if we do that we will be quite happy.


"I feel we have played well in all the league cup games but are a young team with still a couple of new guys to come in.


"For us, it's about the boys progressing - we sent three boys up last year plus one at Ayr and hopefully they will progress. 


"We don't have the finances of certain clubs but if we can attract players who can learn their trade here, they will get to play and that's what we're looking for."