Reid committed his long-term future to the club after agreeing a new three-year deal.

While many expect Reid's side to suffer heavy defeats week-in, week-out, the New Douglas Park boss is determined for his young side to give a good account of themselves.

"We're not going up to be used as cannon fodder but I refuse to use the word survival," he told the Daily Record.

"If we finish second bottom but achieve that by not having progressed and not having played in the correct manner then it isn't the kind of surviving that I want to do. That doesn't interest me or this club.

"We want to perform in the right manner by bringing young Scottish footballers through. How we go about our business is as important to this club as whether or not we stay in the SPL.

"The thing I look forward to most is watching the young players show what they can do on the SPL stage."

When quizzed on whether Reid thinks his side will avoid a swift return to the First Division the former Clyde boss opted to sit on the fence.

"I'm not going to put my neck on the line by saying yes or no as to whether we will go straight back down or not," he continued.

"We certainly won't be one of the bigger fish in the SPL but that doesn't concern me as I've coped with all my managerial days.

"But we will bring a freshness to the SPL as we haven't been there for 20 years.

"Some of the Old Firm fans haven't seen the quality of our youngsters and I can assure them they're good players."