‘Loons’ Player Pool takes Shape

The acquisition of Gary Fraser by Jim Weir over this past weekend saw the ‘Loons’ playing squad boosted to eighteen in size, a distinct difference numerically to where we were situated a year ago.

As has also been well documented there are five totally new faces in the squad to date, Gary being joined earlier in the close season by former Stenhousemuir defender Ross Meechan, Elgin City midfielder Thomas Reilly and of course the vastly experienced John Baird in a Player/Assistant Managerial role.

These newcomer ranks were augmented last midweek with the capture of goalkeeper Willie Muir following his release by Airdrieonians and his presence in the squad will keep last season’s Player of the Year Marc McCallum on his toes!

Darren Whyte who as we all know is equally at home in the centre of defence or in a full back role has now made his move to Station Park permanent, having spent seven months of last season on loan to the Athies from his then parent club St. Mirren.

Looking at the squad in general, Ross and Darren mentioned above are two of what would appear to be six defenders in the squad as it stands.

Club Captain Michael Travis, the experienced Jamie Bain, Andy Munro and Michael Kennedy hopefully back to fitness following the horrific injury he incurred up at Formartine last November give Jim and his coaching staff options a plenty in this department.

Dylan Easton who made such an impression in the second half of last season, Eddie Malone, Murray MacKintosh and youngster Jack Allan are the stalwarts left from last season’s squad to vie for midfield berths, while up front John Baird and Dale Hilson will hopefully form an important and match winning partnership as the season progresses.

Matthew Aitken is thankfully fit again following the ‘multiple’ injuries he picked up in the Alloa fixture in mid April, Kirriemuir based Ben Starkey the second of the Development squad to be given a professional contract in the Spring.

Jim will without doubt still be hoping to add another couple of players to his pool, the loan market place a possibility for recruitment once all clubs have returned to training from their summer break and Managers at Premiership and Championship level have fully assessed their own depth of squad etc.

Of course the additions to date have meant departures from last season’s player pool.

Rumour has it that Grant Adam may end up at Dumbarton, but no doubt the big keeper will have other options, while Scott McBride, Josh Peters and Kevin McNaughton were not offered new deals.  

Mark Millar’s everyday work commitments down in his hometown of Greenock which saw him miss a couple of vital late season fixtures in April caused a problem with his potential re-signing, while Marc Scott has been offered training facilities with the club in the first instance as he attempts to get back to full fitness.

Greg Hurst, Russell Dingwall and Ross MacIver who spent the second half of last season with the club on temporary transfers have returned to their parent clubs St. Johnstone and Ross County and as with all who have departed the Station Park scene do so with the best wishes of all connected with Forfar Athletic FC.