Adam Shorto has hit the first century break of the new season with a clearance of 111 in the Individual Snooker League. (Picture by Daniel Guerin, 0407106)

AS THE local snooker fraternity comes to terms with the shock news of Stan Lester’s passing away, a new season beckons with a number of changes in the top flight.

None more so than Lester’s team, La Villette Gremlins, who suffered the departure of Ian Platt and Graham Peel to the Ex-Service Chirpers, but picked up John Skillett and Dave Bullock in exchange.

Now under the captaincy of Jez Rowe, the Gremlins have also acquired Gordon Irish from Sporting Lions and new kid on the block Jess de la Haye, who looks set to rotate with Bullock.

A realistic target of a fourth consecutive third-place finish will be in the Gremlins’ sights, but on their day they will undoubtedly cause problems for the Gremlin Galacticos and the Chirpers who look set to dominate the Image Group Premier Division again.

While the Chirpers have added Platt and Peel to the pairing of Martyn Desperques and Adrian Holley to form a strong quartet, some things don’t change and the formidable Galacticos foursome will begin their quest to retain all three domestic trophies as favourites, with Adrian Lihou replacing Adam Shorto at the helm.