Coach Jim McInally has revealed he will try to bring last season's top scorer back to the club on another season-long loan from Morton.

The 18-goal front man returned to Cappielow after Shire's play-off exit at the hands of Cowdenbeath to see out the final year of his contract with the First Division side.

But, this week, McInally revealed he wants the player for another year.

"It's something I intend to pursue," he said.

"I will be talking to Morton to see if it is a possibility.

''I said to Brian while he was with us that he would benefit from another 15 goal season and he would certainly be an asset to us.

"His performances for us were great last season, especially considering he hadn't put in a full pre-season with us and, in that respect, came from behind everyone else to end up top scorer.

"But if it doesn't come off then we will have another few options in terms of getting in some strikers."

The Shire coach has already failed in an attempt to bring back former fans favourite, Steve Hislop, to the club.

The 31-year-old, just released by Raith Rovers after their promotion to the First Division, is on the lookout for a part-time team but was not prepared to drop down into the lowest level of the league just yet.

Another signing target, former Ayr United frontman, Gareth Wardlaw, has also rebuffed an offer to join Shire and instead has put pen to paper for Third Division rivals Cowdenbeath.

But the coach is taking these setbacks in his stride.

"I am not worried," he said. "We have 11 of last season's squad either signed up already or who have verbally agreed to re-sign.

''That is better than I had hoped because we were asking most of them to take a cut in wages and they could quite easily have walked away and looked for better money.

"We are still waiting on Paul Weaver and Jamie Stevenson giving us an answer to offers made to them.

''They were both big players last year and it would be great if they signed as well."

McInally has also brought in a couple of promising juniors from Forfar West End and will loan both players back out to the Angus club to get experience.

The success stories of last season's youth set-up, Gary O'Hara, Stephen Paige and Jason Elliot will also be part of the squad for next season.

"To some degree the on-the-pitch stuff has taken care of itself," said the Shire coach.

"We had always planned on keeping the bulk of last season's squad and maybe adding three or four new players to that and we still have options as far as that is concerned."

One player who remains a signing target is former Elgin City, Cowdenbeath and Alloa Athletic defensive midfielder, Pat Scullion who is currently mulling over an offer.

"Our real priority has been getting all the other stuff sorted out.

''With us moving away from 'Firs Park we have had to spend a lot of time getting training facilities and that has not been as straightforward as we would have liked.

"Even getting pre-season matches organised has been difficult because we have to play them all away from Ochilview.

''We are not on everybody's list of teams to play, especially at home but we will get some games sorted out."

Shire have already re-quested their home Stirling-shire Cup match with Stirling Albion is switched to Forth-bank and will face Brechin City in a closed-door game at Glebe Park.

East Stirlingshire FC Supporters Club annual general meeting goes ahead tonight (Thursday) at the Creamery, Main Street, Bains-ford with a 7.30 p.m. start. All members are urged to attend.