SAV-LA-MAR, Westmoreland — Despite not been able to spend as much money as other clubs in the transfer market, Junior Francis, coach of newly rebranded FC Reno, is in an upbeat mood as the 2015-16 Red Stripe Premier League season kicks off today.

The Westmoreland club that changed its name from Reno FC with a change of ownership for the new club licensing system, just managed to retain their place last season with a last-gasp effort.

Francis, who has had extensive coaching experience at the Premier League level, said the new structure at the former three-time national champions will ensure success.

“Reno never lacked good players or coaching,” he said. “What they lacked was structure and proper management, and this year we have that and results will be seen.”

He will be putting his faith in a young team without any recognisable star player, and said, in three years’ time, if this group stays together, it will become a factor, if they manage to stay in the league.

Craig Foster, who almost singlehandedly kept the team in the league last year with 19 goals, is gone, plying his trade in the USL leagues.

Codean Smikle, who famously took over in goal after both goalkeepers were sent off in the semi-final of the Champions Cup KO, and pulled off a series of good saves to deny Harbour View, has also left.

The most recognisable name coming in is former national Under-17 defender Tyshan Hill, who played for Wadadah FC in the Western Confederation last season.

“We retained about 14 players from last year’s team, and we got some talented young players from here in Westmoreland and some from St Elizabeth and we hope they will step up and adapt quickly,” he said.

Francis plans to lead from the front. “I coach to win all the time, and I am confident that all things being well we can make it to the top four,” he said optimistically.

“These players are coachable and have responded well to instructions,” he said, pointing out that one of the major hurdles last season was a disconnect between the coaching staff and Technical Director Wendell Downswell.

Francis said he and Downswell are seeing “eye to eye” and that has made for a good start, he said.

Francis noted that he had seen a number of the Premier League teams in the pre-season and he is not scared. “We will be able to compete, FC Reno will be there with the other teams,” he said.

Players in — Ashek Taylor, Bershon Bryan, Roshane Sharpe, Miguel Barnaby, Kenardo Cooper, Shamar Bernard, Tyshan Hill, Errol McNeil

Players out — Craig Foster, Aldaine Grant, Codean Smikle

— Paul Reid