ALTHOUGH even the most cursory glance at Glasgow City's results over the past eight years would suggest that Scott Booth has landed an easy number with the Scottish champions; the reality is rather different ahead of his first game against Celtic on Sunday.

There is, for once, no certainty that his new club will win this season's SWPL title, thus emulating the achievements of Celtic and Rangers in men's football by making it nine-in-a-row. There is a realistic challenge from Hibernian; in two meetings this season City have yet to beat the Edinburgh side in 90 minutes and the clubs are level on points after 11 league matches.

The reality is that City massively over-achieved in reaching the women's Champions League quarter-finals in March. Eddie Wolecki Black, the previous head coach, can take pride in that, because the side was not as strong as the one which reached the last 16 the previous season.

That team included Rachel Corsie and Jess Fishlock, now playing with Seattle Reign, while four other internationalists have also left the club. Nor have matters improved since the Paris Saint-Germain ties earlier this year.

As well as a lengthy list of long-term injuries, Booth will be without former Scotland players Emma Black and Sue Lappin, both of whom have recently retired. The club's most exciting attacking player, Fiona Brown, suffered the second ACL knee injury of her short career playing for Scotland against France in May. Another forward, Susan Fairlie, has also left the club.

Booth's attacking options seem limited in the short term. He has two very good goalkeepers in Lee Alexander and Megan Cunningham, a solid defence and some excellent midfield players, but the champions' main rivals will be relishing the prospect of gaining revenge on a club which is clearly in transition.

First up are Celtic, who themselves lost several experienced players, including Julie Fleeting and Suzanne Grant, in the winter. The most bitter rivalry in Scottish women's football is not between Rangers and Celtic, but Celtic and City. There is no love lost between the clubs.

Nevertheless, while Aberdeen and Rangers will, like Celtic, go into their upcoming league games against the champions with more expectation than in previous seasons, it is a re-energised Hibs who present Booth with his biggest challenge at a club which has won all twelve previous domestic trophies.

Hibs' four winter signings from Celtic have boosted a squad already containing some of the best young prospects in Scotland; the Edinburgh club are determined to win their first title since 2007. They are unlikely to give Booth, who was sacked by Stenhousemuir in February, any margin for error, but in his favour he is now working in an environment which is more professional in almost every respect than men's lower-league football.

"I did something in training on Monday night which I do the first time I go into a club, or meet a new squad of players," he pointed out. "They did it better than any team I have been involved with, including age-group international teams.

"People outside the women's game think there must be difficulties and problems, but so far I don't see that at all. The girls have been so professional. They think for themselves and take responsibility. They watch their diets and train well. I've been really impressed with everything so far.

"They also train four nights a week, which is the equivalent of two weeks at some part-time clubs."

Despite all the departures, the club has retained experienced internationalists such as captain Leanne Ross and her deputy Jo Love. Attacking midfielder Denise O'Sullivan, the Republic of Ireland internationalist, could play in any league in Europe.

Nevertheless, Booth is fortunate that City have qualified automatically for the 2015-16 Champions League for the first time. That gives him some breathing space, because he will unquestionably need to strengthen his squad if the club are to continue the impressive European adventures under Wolecki Black. Even with a stronger squad last season they struggled to get through the last 32 and 16 stages.

With men's clubs finally wakening up to the possibilities of women's football – as well as those already mentioned, Hearts, Motherwell and Dundee United are expected to mount future challenges – Booth's job is to keep this stand-alone women's club at the forefront of domestic football, while simultaneously keeping the Saltire flying proudly in Europe. He is likely to find it a more onerous assignment than his predecessor's.