By Colin Moffat

Much is expected of Uruguayan recruit Fabian Yantorno

Gretna's rapid rise to the top flight in Scottish football has been well documented but can the small town team make a splash in the big boys' pool?

Divisions Three and Two were won at a canter as the Black & Whites flexed the financial muscle of eccentric backer Brooks Mileson.

But they staggered over the First Division finishing line in dramatic fashion in the final minutes of last season.

And the big spending that has marked the club's short history in the senior ranks has suddenly dried up.

Many of the older players on big wages were jettisoned during the previous campaign.

A plethora of new recruits were expected over the summer but, so far, only midfielders Paul Murray, Abdul Osman and Fabian Yantorno have arrived.

Murray has a great pedigree, having played for England at Under-21 level, alongside Rio Ferdinand and Frank Lampard.

However, following a spell in Portugal that was blighted by a serious knee injury, his last stop was Carlisle United, where he managed just 14 appearances last season.

Yantorno also boasts an impressive grounding, having represented Uruguay at Under-20 level.

And the 24-year-old claims to have turned down offers from Argentina and Mexico in order to see the bright lights of Gretna: population 3,000.

His pre-season showings have had manager David Irons purring with approval and talking of a potential future move to England's Premier League.

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But recent warm-up defeats to Queen of the South and Ayr United, with the South American missing, suggest he had better be one hell of a player if Gretna are to avoid a struggle in the Premier League.

Trialists have been arriving thick and fast at Raydale Park as Gretna search for new talent.

Since Alan Main agreed to return to St Johnstone, a goalkeeper has been high on the list of priorities.

Greg Fleming and David Mathieson have been joined by teenager Nathan Wright but an experienced custodian sounds like a necessary requirement for a team sure to be doing a lot of defending.

Hibernian's Zbigniew Malkowski did well during his loan spell last season but the club may not be able to afford a permanent deal.

Manager David Irons appears to have a tough job on his hands

Given that the Pole was widely referred to as 'Zibby the clown' after a series of high-profile blunders for Hibs, maybe that's just as well.

Tony Caig, formerly of the Hibs parish but not remembered with much fondness at Easter Road - if recalled at all, has also been courted by Irons.

Hibs put nine goals past Gretna in two cup outing last term and their fans might be licking their lips in anticipation of a few more celebrations if either man signs up.

Colin McMenamin knocked in an impressive 23 goals for Gretna as they clinched the First Division title.

But the former Livingston forward will need some support if he is to make his mark this term.

James Grady has been round the block but his last season in the SPL, with Dundee United in 2004/05, yielded just two league goals.

A bright future is expected for Scotland Under-19 striker Fraser McLaren but it might be asking too much for him to step up to the plate.

Fans of Gretna face a 130-mile round trip to watch their team play 'home' games at Motherwell's Fir Park.

The form book points to a lot of long silences on the buses back to Dumfriesshire.

But the Gretna story has thrown up more than its fair share of twists and the Black & Whites could yet have a few more tricks up their sleeves.