SKIPPER Andy Bartley is hoping Australian paid man Aaron Heal will turn up the volume at Rishton.

Heal, from Western Australian, is the new pro at Blackburn Road and Bartley is confident he can steer the side upwards and onwards after finishing bottom last season.

"We have got a new pro and I think it has given everyone a fresh impetus," said the captain.

"I expect a top half of the table finish this season and everyone is keen.

"Aussies are usually fiery and competitive and I think that’s what we need.

"The lads listen to me shouting all the time and probably just ignore me now but hopefully, when it comes from a different angle, they will listen."

It was a weird season for Rishton as they were champions in 2007 and then slumped badly last summer.

"I don’t think we can put our finger on why as we had the same pro in Saeed Anwar Junior and virtually the same team," said the skipper.

"But we didn’t start well and then we lost a lot of our close games.

"We are hoping to win them this season and be a lot more competitive.

"Fair play to Accrington, they were strong and I don’t think you can look much beyond them this season for the title.

"But we struggled the year after we won it and I think it is all about having a good start.

"The year we won the league, we started well, won a lot of games got into the winning mentality and got the confidence and that plays a big part in it. We want to do that again."

Rishton have added bowlers Irfan Muhammed and Asif Muhammed (both East Lancs) to their side.

l READ pro Jonathan Harvey is the sub pro for their opening game as Heal is at a wedding but will arrive next week.