The Paties Road outfit, as well as signing a number of new faces, have re-organised the coaching and medical side of the club which Miller believes will positively effect results.

Former Craigroyston boss Alan Whyte has been brought in to help the coaching staff of Miller, Ian Black and Finlay Wells while a fully qualified physiotherapist, Tracey Faulkner, has also been appointed to help out on match-days.

The moves represent a significant step forward for Edinburgh who, at the end of last season, linked up with Pentland Panthers youth club and now run a number of age-group sides with the hope being that the players will come through the ranks.

On the playing front, Jamie Hawkins (Musselburgh Athletic), Chris Jackson (Lothian Thistle), Jason Hunter (Dunfermline Athletic), John Martin (Armadale Thistle) and Steven Finlayson (Penicuik Athletic under-21) have all arrived to bolster the squad and Miller is hopeful the club will reap the benefits from all the changes at the club over the summer. "Promotion always has to be the aim," said Miller. "We finished some 22 points off the pace last season which was incredibly disappointing and we want to improve on that this season."

"Our committee of Alan Forrest and Brian Smith have worked hard on improving the club and we feel the steps we've taken on the coaching side and the appointment of a physio will help.

"We've added some good young players to the squad who are hungry and want to do well and we're still looking at bringing another couple of new faces in.

"We are in a very tough league, and have a difficult start to the season, but we're looking to do well this year."

• EDINBURGH UNITED lost their first game of the pre-season 7-1 to an impressive Hearts under-17 side at Riccarton last night.