It was announced last week that Dick Campbell has been chosen as the man to succeed Jim Moffat in the managerial hot seat, assisted by his brother Ian.

The ex-Brechin City, Partick Thistle and Ross County boss has signed a two-year contract - and has immediately got down to work, assessing the current pool of players and making plans for the new season.

Indeed, Dick has already made his first signing, persuading ex-Brechin City, Dumbarton and Raith Rovers midfielder Craig Winter to join up.

The 31-year-old brings bags of experience to the club and that's exactly what Dick is looking for.

"You'll never win anything in Scottish football with a young team," he commented on Monday. "You need a blend of experience and youth and my aim is build up a squad of around 20 players ahead of the new season."

Campbell will look at all the options in his bid to find the right players to get the Loons back on track after two dismal seasons.

Indeed, only a few days into his new role and he has already been offered players on loan from three different clubs!

Dick is naturally delighted that Winter has opted to join him at Station Park.

He described the experienced midfielder as "a smashing lad".

"He is a winner and the type of player I like," continued Dick, who is looking forward to the challenge that Forfar presents.

He explained on Monday that he had been approached by three other clubs, but was happy to take up the Station Park mantle.

"I have always found Forfar to be a well run football club full of good people.

"Yes, they have had two pretty disappointing seasons, but I am here on a two-year deal to see if I can change things for the better, and I am up for that."

Forfar Athletic vice-chairman Mike McEwan said the club directors were delighted to get a man of Dick's calibre to come to Station Park.

"He has a proven record as a manager, having proved in the past that he can take clubs to a higher level."

And, chairman Neill Wilson, speaking on Monday, fresh from a golfing break abroad, expressed his "delight and excitement" at getting the Campbell brothers at the managerial helm.

"It is a tried and trusted partnership, and hopefully, after two dismal seasons, we can bounce back to mount a challenge for promotion to the second division next season.

"We, as directors, are looking forward to working with the new managerial team and hopefully we will be in a position to increase what is a fairly modest budget to help in the team rebuilding process."

Just how the Forfar playing squad will shape up for the coming season will depend on a number of factors.

A number of contracts will be up this coming Thursday, but there are still 13 players who have contracts running for another season.

Campbell will be keen to assess everyone as soon as possible, with the players still signed up having the opportunity to impress the new boss in the early stages of pre-season training.

Campbell comes to Station Park with quite a managerial pedigree. He was manager at Dunfermline for eight good years before enjoying a highly successful reign at nearby Brechin City.

From the Glebe he headed for Partick Thistle, where he spent another "three good seasons" before heading north to take Ross County to the top of the second division, prior to stepping down after less than five months in charge.

But Ross County's loss turns out to be Forfar's gain, and, with his brother back at his side, Dick will, over the next couple of weeks or so, take a close look at the whole Station Park set-up, getting his back-room team in place, ahead of preparing for what hopefully will be an assault on division three honours in season 2008-2009.