A CASH strapped football club have unveiled their secret weapon to help them battle through the new football season - superfit cheerleaders.

Albion Rovers have hired the team of glamorous beauties to cheer on their players at their ground Cliftonhill in Coatbridge, Lanarkshire.

The Division Three club - who once saw legendary Celtic and Scotland manager Jock Stein wear their colours - will be parading the Dance Dynamics girls all season.

The group were hired by Rover's director Pat Rolink who had been impressed by rave reviews of the girls.

And last night he said he hopes the attraction of the dancers will help boost the club's average attendance up from it usual 300 brave souls.

He said: "I think the girls can help turn the games into more than just a football match.

"They bring a bit of colour and glamour and it's huge difference between them and the decrepit old stadium.

"I would hope they can show the club is showing a bit of ambition and hopefully the girls' enthusiasm will act as a catalyst for everyone at the club."

Dance Dynamics coach Carol McLean, 21, said they had received a warm response from fans after making their dance debut last Saturday.

She said: "The club are really pleased to have us and the fans' response has been great.

"The girls have experience of dancing in all conditions so facing the winter conditions won't be a problem.

"Our debut was last Saturday when Albion took on Forfar but unfortunately it wasn't a winning a start. Forfar won 3-1.

"But we hope to hope to be cheering them on to better things as the season goes on."

Dancer Julie Burns, 22, of Uddingston, Lanarkshire, said she hopes the girls will bring some good luck to the Albion squad.

She said: "We did some cheerleading for a local rugby club who had been on a bit of a losing streak and they won their next couple of games.

"So hopefully we can cheer on the Albion team to success."

Earlier this year Rovers tried to increase attendances by luring the local Polish community to games.

A full page advert, in Polish, appeared in a local paper offering free admittance to a home match with Dumbarton.