The 48-year-old Dumfries police constable has finally achieved his ambition of playing in Scotland after 18 years with the club from supporter to chairman.

Gretna were voted into Division Three in June by the Scottish Football League, taking the place vacated by the demise of Airdrieonians.

Now Fulton insists he will thrive on the rigours of stewardship of a club who finally made the move to their native country from the English UniBond League at the third attempt.

The Gretna chief is enjoying the limelight before manager Rowan Alexander and his players get down to the real business of trying to thrive in the SFL.

"But this is where we have always wanted to be. We have tried so often to get into the Scottish league and we are doing everything we can to make it right.

"It has always been my ambition to return to Scotland. We are leaving a lot of good people behind in the UniBond League, which was a very good level.

"But we are Scottish and they are English. Every time we would go to games, the chant would go up: 'England, England'.

"It got so bad last season we got a tartan away strip just to annoy them!"

Gretna will kick off their Third Division campaign on 3 August, with Morton the visitors to Raydale Park.

"The week building up to the Morton game will be hectic," continued Fulton.

"There was actually a guy from an American sports channel interviewing me on the pitch with me wearing a boiler suit. It has been amazing.

"We are coming to Hampden Park for our first tie in the Bell's Cup against Queen's Park and where better to play than the national stadium?"