craigiemack

It reminds me of us last season, just signing anyone with a recognisable name that has played in the SPFL. The biggest problem for us was the dressing room atmosphere, getting that right is the key to success imo. You are obviously going to be paying big money to Erskine and Paton etc, how will stalwarts like Winter react to these boys earning a few hundred pounds more a week than him if they don't produce it regularly on a Saturday

Still the best centre half in the Falkirk (and now Clackmannan) area.

Craig Henderson from Livingston Reserves signs tonight. Didn't see us play them in the reserve league but apparently he scored a free kick against us. Played with Cowdenbeath, Cumbernauld and Bo Ness so perhaps they'll have a better idea of the type of player he is. The signings of the past few nights would give the indication that quite a few of Millar, McLaughlin, Griffiths, McCafferty, Horne, and Sweeney are gone.

Hopefully a physically dominant defender like Jon Tully

Our full team are anonymous when we go to Bonnyrigg so he'll fit right in

I find looking at who teams recently follow on twitter as a good guide to signings so I may have an inkling to who Kelty may be after haha. Nothing yet, they said there were busy days and nights ahead so hopefully some signings in the next week or so.

Spill the beans haha

We offered him a contract last summer but he wanted astronomical wages. Think he got a bit too big for his boots cause he banged in 50 goals against East of Scotland conference fodder. Will be interesting to see how he does in the LL as League 2 seemed a step too far for him. I think you're right though, the positions you state are exactly what we need. Just wonder where we will look for our players, We went for SPFL players last season and that didn't work out too well. All of our best signings were from LL clubs and the Gibbons deal maybe indicates that that's where we are looking at for players this summer. I'd take young, hungry LL players over old pros looking for a final payday anyday of the week.

Yeah there needs to be and I'm sure there will. A GK is a must. While in defence a new CB would be welcome, we have enough cover at left and right back. Our central midfield looks solid and that will be bolstered if McLaughlin or Millar sign on but we are very light on the wings. Need some more forward options, a similar player to Sean Brown would be the dream. Still very early days but the squad is shaping up nicely i'd say. The most important thing was getting rid of the poor dressing room atmosphere and resigning our important players from last season. We seem to have achieved both of them so far.

Fantastic to see your signings tonight have made that VL Craig Telfer raging. Can't wait to see his seething ugly puss when the tonkas are diddying down in the Lowland League getting pumped aff teams called Turnip FC

I forgot about him. There was also the guy they got from Whitehill. That's 5 goalies in a year, nothing like showing faith in your number 1 haha.

You seem to sign a new keeper every couple of months Does this mean you are getting rid of Mckenzie and Millar? McKenzie had a cracker of a game in 1-0 game against us and Millar was always solid whenever I seen him play for Lochee. They're both far too good to be sitting on the bench in the LL

Teams have been relegated every single year for the past 4 years. The league decided not to this year because of a global pandemic and the abrupt end to the season. As such the league will relegate the sufficient number of teams to get back to 16 for 2021/22. Must be difficult for you to get your head around that, your obsession with Vale of Leithen not getting relegated is bordering on creepy tbh.

Just seen that League 1 and 2 plan to begin their season on October 17th so surely the LL will be planning for then too. The Government still saying that there will be no fans before October but hopefully if the progress that is being made continues then fans will be back by that start date. All football in North and Eastern Europe have some fans back so I see no reason why that won't be the case here. Social distancing shouldn't be a problem at any ground, so long as people spaced out around the ground at places like Kelty/Bonnyrigg. The main problem I see is how many games our league will run with. SPFL are going with 27 while we are supposed to play 32 plus any cup games. Added in the fact that we need to finish the league two weeks before the SPFL to accommodate the play offs and its clear to see that a 32 game season is not viable unless teams are prepared to play a lot of midweek games. Maybe a split after one round wouldn't be the worst idea. Top 8 and bottom 9 would give 23 and 24 games for each half and a lot of competitive games to end the year. Who knows, just glad that proper football is getting closer to returning

Unbelievable, what a game this is

Hopefully will become the case. A few good players leaving EK.

Agree, Ure and Shirra will provide good depth and back up if we are going to run with a smaller squad. I just pray Ure is signed to be on the bench. Murray can cover all across the back and as AHB says he has developed into a decent player these past couple years. I'm surprised Malone signed on as I heard he wasn't happy at the club, with a full pre season behind him I'm sure he'll be a solid player this season. My only worry is our defence was so poor last season its perhaps not the wisest decision to resign the entire back line again so a further CB is a must imo. Gibbons will hopefully be a very important signing. I know he struggled at Stenny but that was Legaue 1/2 and he is proven and very capable at LL level. He a strong, combative player and that should allow Low to prosper if Gibbons can do the hard work for him. Should also help in trying to prevent us being overrun on the counter attack as that was one of our major downfalls last year. Of the rest of this years squad I'm really hoping we keep McLaughlin. I would take any of Griffiths, Millar, McCafferty and Horne back but I would not be overly bothered if any of them left.

Apparently Mackin now has dementia. Made the news last year so harassing the lawyers of his wife during their divorce case.

https://spfl.co.uk/news/east-stirlingshire-set-for-new-galaxy This is the closest we've came but i think the communications between the club and LK broke down. We also still have hundreds of kids playing under the name ES Galaxy but i don't think their is any contact between the club and ES Galaxy anymore, which is, if that's still the case, a joke. I don't think we can really progress or at least stabilise as a club without an active community programme, in this regard we are miles behind our teams at our level - something that makes the fact we don't have a strong relationship with ES galaxy even more annoying. We had a community day a few years ago against Spartans but we were hammered 4-1, that isn't going to attract anybody. Hopefully we can reestablish relations, invite them to a game against Vale of Leithen or someone and try to get some new fans. Anyway, 5 signings going to be announced tonight. Hopefully at least 1 new one. Fitbaw is getting closer to coming back!!

Agreed, always good to see players getting another chance - he started well when he came on loan to us but was pretty average for the rest of his time, albeit in a team pretty low on confidence. The past few years at this level has really seen him grow and he is well worthy of a move to a higher level. Big boots to fill however, Orr and Collins will be big losses. Does the club have a big budget because of the cup run? I know that from the shires experience big teams at home in a cup doesn't necessarily mean a big pay day due to extra stewarding and police costs etc.

Thomas Orr to Stranraer, oaft.

@Dead will be the man most likely in the know. I'm pretty sure the footage will be somewhere, just maybe not online at this moment.

Because Kelty have a far better run club, more generous sponsors, hundreds of community players, bigger crowds, would be more appealing to players - the list is endless in all honesty. The only USP Cowden have is SPFL football. Don't make me laugh, 'without any complaint' - your club was sending out mayday calls claiming you would be bankrupt within a year if you were relegated. Perhaps the shire 'established the standard for deadwood' but judging by your points totals in recent years, particularly in your play off survival years, you weren't much better. Bare in mind it took penalties one year and an act of cheating to avoid it the other shows that. The Shire supported the implementation of the pyramid, despite knowing that they would likely be one of the first to fall and handled the relegation period with dignity. We didn't go crying to the government for money like yourselves. Enjoy the SPFL handouts while you can

Well it's not wrong though, is it? Albion Rovers have just stated that they didn't want Brora in the league. McMenemy wants relegation to be scrapped for a few years. Tatters used any excuse he could possibly think of to try and halt reconstruction while Cowdenbeath are terrified at the prospect of Kelty and other forward thinking Fife clubs joining the leagues. They used every excuse and diversion possible to avoid reconstruction and in the end they got what they wanted. They can wrap it up in any way they want but they are all terrified at what is coming up from beneath them. While they stagnate, everyone below them is progressing and that is only going to make things worse as one by one they drop out of the leagues.

Absolute shambles of a headline this morning in response to the vote yesterday, https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/local-sport/albion-rovers-gaffers-birthday-relief-22198675 The reconstruction vote was a chance to accelerate the pyramid, reward success and allow forward thinking clubs the opportunity to excel in the SPFL. The League 2 clubs have shat themselves at the prospect of Kelty and Brora coming in since day 1, repeatedly making excuses and diverting attention to other 'problems'. But i'm sure clowns like McMenemy, Tatters and Findlay have enjoyed their fifteen minutes of fame during this, I don't think they will get very warm welcomes when their teams are inevitably rotting away in the lower tiers of the pyramid. It's going to be a great day when it comes. Doesn't say much for Albion Rovers finances if they shite themselves at the prospect of going to Brora twice a year. Maybe Strachan was right...