LABOUR'S new regime in Glasgow has unveiled the team it hopes will retain control of the city and fend off the threat of the SNP at the next local elections.

Two months after he was elected leader of the city council and 18 months from the most significant council elections in Glasgow in 40 years, Frank McAveety has named those he will put in political charge of the various departments running everything from care to schools, bin collections and pub opening times.

It sees the promotion of several new faces and a number of others prominent under previous leader Gordon Matheson sacked or demoted. There is no role for the former council boss.

Notably, the number of female councillors at the top table has risen from one to three, while the roles within the decision-making 'executive committee' have been altered.

Mr McAveety will hope the new team will provide the launchpad for Labour to hold the council at the May 2017 local elections, with many predicting the opposition SNP will be the next administration in the city.

Sources close to the leadership said the new look administration was about bringing a "step change" but "retain consensus and unity" within the ruling Labour group.

But in a major hint divisions remained from the summer leadership contest. One disgruntled member of the administration has described the reshuffle as "the day of the short chib".

The SNP has described the new team as a "recycled cabinet dusting off individuals who've already conspicuously failed to deliver for the city".

Expected to be confirmed within the coming days are former Lord Provost Liz Cameron in charge of Children, Families and Lifelong Learning, while east end councillor George Redmond takes on Jobs, Business and Investment.

The obvious left field choice sees fellow east end councillor Elaine McDougall put in charge of Transport, Environment and Sustainability, Martin Rhodes becomes member for Personnel and Finance remains with Paul Rooney.

Core ally of the Sarwar dynasty Soryia Siddique heads the new brief of Citizens and Community, Matt Kerr returns to social work, now called Families, Health and Social Care and former SPT chairman Alistair Watson is the group whip.

Appointments to arms-length and external bodies like SPT and City Building have yet to be confirmed, while Bill Butler remains chairman of the licensing board.

Former education convenor and leadership candidate Stephen Curran is out, while another contender for the top job, Malcolm Cunning, leaves social work for the more low-key role heading a committee on childcare.

One source said: "The promotion of female councillors to the department with the biggest budget, the largest service delivery and also the new role to help Labour retain the council in 2017 are indicative of the step change. These are some of the most important positions on the council and crucial in winning back trust for Labour."

Susan Aitken, leader of the SNP group, said: "It's taken Frank McAveety seven full weeks as leader of the council to announce his team. Is he seriously telling us this is the best that Labour has to offer the people of Glasgow?

"This is largely a recycled cabinet backing up a recycled leader, and dusting off individuals who've already conspicuously failed to deliver for the city. This is still just the face of old-style, top-down Glasgow Labour, more interested in internal battles than the outward, forward-looking politics the city needs.

"Glaswegians will give their verdict in 2017 but this reshuffle certainly doesn't look like a response to the change that people have clearly been demanding."

A spokesman for the administration said: "The new leader wants a step change, new faces and new ideas but retaining unity within the group."