FANS of former Premier League champions Arnett Gardens will have something to cheer about this season after flirting with relegation over the past two years, said club president Patrick Roberts.

Three-times league champions and back-to-back winners in 2001 and 2002, Arnett Gardens have one of the largest fan bases locally, but those fans have had little to celebrate over the last several years. However, things could change this season, said Roberts.

“Great things are expected. Arnett has never lost its fan based, but at the end of the day the fans want something to cheer about,” Roberts told the Sunday Observer after the launch of the island’s top football league last Thursday.

Arnett, or the “Junglist” as they are affectionately called, finished eighth last season with 45 points, just three points above the relegated Rivoli United, and this close shave has been happening over the last couple of years with their Premier League survival coming on the last or penultimate game of the season.

This, the club management insists, will not happen this year as things are in place to fight for the title this season.

“We have looked at the situation of the whole relegation ‘last game’ scenario so we have… brought in Daniel Shaw, Fabian Dawkins, Oneil Thomas and a couple more players to bolster the squad.

“What we’re seeing right now in training, we never had that for a couple of years in pre-season and most of these guys that come on board, came with one intention to bring the club to the forefront and in a competitive position where the club has always been,” Roberts revealed.

From 38 games last year, Arnett won only 10 times while losing 13 times and drawing 15. The Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex used to be a nightmare for visiting teams, but their home record last season was far from impressive.

In fact, it was dangerously frightening as they won only five games from 20 matches and lost seven times — the second worst record in the league — but Roberts expects a complete turnaround.

Arnett have brought in several persons on their club’s executive to help put them back among the elite clubs in the country.

Samuel Scott, a businessman, will be in charge of all technical aspect; Kerry Newman will be in charge of marketing; Raldane Hood will be responsible for business affairs as they all have a task of awakening the sleeping giant.

Arnett, who have been criticised over the years for relying too much on their old guard, will be looking to shed some of those years for a younger outfit as the way forward.

They have lost two attacking players in Kwame Richardson and Leon Strickland to rivals Tivoli Gardens and top defender Anthowe Dawkins to neighbours Boys’ Town, but have brought in some useful players that could make a difference.

The return of the prolific midfielder Shaw and former national striker Dawkins from August Town; the speedy Kirk Ramsey, David Lewis and Fabian Gordon from Rivoli United, along with the talented James Durrant from Rae Town should help to bolster the squad.