However, the majority of clubs voted in favour of a change in protocol and Selkirk has been allocated six professional players from Edinburgh.

President George Thomson said that the allocation does not mean that there will be a semi-professional outfit at Philiphaugh this coming season.

He said: "The lads who earned promotion will still be very much in the running for places as the availability of several of the professionals is likely to minimal.

"Indeed, we do not really expect to have the playing services of Ross Ford, Phil Godman or Gavin Kerr as they will probably be featuring in the Scotland set-up.

However, it is a linkage that will enhance the club's profile and I'm sure that the trio will assist in some meaningful capacity to help the local lads develop into better players."

Sean Crombie, Simon Cross and Ben Meyer will definitely strengthen the squad for the rigours of Premier One rugby and provide cover in areas where cover is required. Crombie is a highly-rated hooker who appeared for the now defunct Border Reivers and was Boroughmuir's Player of the Year in their championship-winning 2007/8 season.

Cross is a talented back row forward who captained Wasps Under-21s for three years before moving north to sign for Edinburgh, while Meyer is a quality Kiwi scrum half who formerly played for Auckland Blues.

George added: "They will have no problems in merging into the Philiphaugh family and will train with the squad each Thursday night."

Meanwhile, the club's coaches and players assembled at Philiphaugh on Tuesday night for the official start of pre-season training. A total of 23 players attended the session.

Coach Kevin Barrie said he was pleased by the turn-out, as several players had indicated they would miss the workout because of holiday commitments.

"Last year our players' high fitness levels proved a key element in the success of the side," explained Kevin, "and it's even more important we hit the ground running in Premier One."

Several recruits from Selkirk Youth Club turned up to train alongside their new team-mates, including Stuart Forrest, Craig MacDougall, Callum Marshall and Andrew Renwick.

Also taking part in the session was Selkirk's new development officer, Ciaran Beattie, whose weight training sessions are being taken up with such enthusiasm by players that a rota system had to be implemented in the club's fitness room to cope with the high number of participants.

Absent through injury on Tuesday evening were first XV members Lee Jones and David Gray.

Jones sustained a hamstring strain while representing Scotland Under-20s in the recent IRB Junior World Championships in Wales, while Gray is still recovering from the torn ankle ligaments picked up in last month's Border League play-off final.