Playing Squad Update
[Monday, 20 May 2019 14:33]
One of the worst kept secrets in football at our level was confirmed yesterday when highly ambitious Lowland League outfit Kelty Hearts unveiled Dylan Easton and Thomas Reilly as two of half a dozen new signings.
Jim Weir had spoken at length to both players in recent weeks about their future and certainly, in Thomas’s case, a firm offer of a new deal was on the table.
However, both players have made the decision to step down a couple of levels for now and move to the Fife side managed by Barry Ferguson.
They both head to Kelty with the thanks of all at Station Park for their considerable efforts in a sky blue shirt and with best wishes for their future.
The word ambitious is used in the first line of this article and this decision by Dylan and Thomas does not in any way mean that Forfar Athletic are not similarly ambitious. We trust that our supporters realise this with the squad that Jim Weir was able to put together last term and the similar budget that has been made available to him for the season ahead.
Ambition though has always to be linked to financial common sense and that is something that the custodians of Forfar Athletic will never shy away from.
Obviously, that means that a key player may move elsewhere on occasions, that is just a fact of footballing life these days, but others hopefully of similar stature and ability will be sourced to replace them.
Ten of this past season’s squad are under contract for the 2019/20 season and beyond, while the rebuilding of the remainder of the first team pool has started with the capture of Andy Jackson which, to say the least, has had a great reaction on social media from the fans.
Hopefully before the week is out a defender and a midfield player will also have come on board and that is as they say just the beginning.
However, Forfar Athletic will stick to the tried and trusted policy of not releasing names until the ink is dry on the contracts.
Questions have been asked of the future of Gary Irvine and Brad Spencer, two of Jim Weir’s January recruits signed a the time on short term contracts that expire early next month.
For obvious reasons at present Gary is unwilling to commit to discussing an extension to his deal, while an offer has been made to Brad, but again he is in discussions with a few other clubs at our level before making a final decision on his future.