ShineOnYouCrazyDiamonds

That’s Jay Cantley already signed for Stenhousemuir

The released didn’t seem that big to me until I realised with loanees returning it actually only leaves four players in negotiations on top of the four signed up. I love Easton but I said before McCabe was always the priority for me (although I didn’t expect him as manager) and Frizzell was my player of the year vote so I’d be very happy for us to keep both. Not really much to argue with in terms of who has been released. Currie, Kerr, and Allan probably at the top end of the released list where it seems they could have stayed and we probably wouldn’t be up in arms if Gabby had been released but, the comings and goings (within our control) thus far seem absolutely fine. Excited to see who we bring in now that we’re getting to that stage. Best thing under Murray for me was recruitment, so it’ll be interesting to see how we get on with that now he’s away.

Shelley Kerr involved?

No reason for the club to go part time as far as I can tell. There’s more money to be made in the league with QOTS and Dunfermline replacing Cove and QP surely?

Does his name rhyme with Sammy Valentine?

Definitely seems to me like these guys haven’t been offered a new deal or were up front in rejecting one, while others might be considering options along with an Airdrie offer.

Few people have mentioned seeing him at the Queen's Park game but I actually noticed him at the Peterhead game at the end of last season as well. Might not mean much though as he just seemed to be taking his sons to the football.

Petrie is contracted until 2025 and there’s no way we’ll compensation for anyone. Even if we would, Petrie wouldn’t leave Montrose for us since he probably has a better shot at promotion with the team he’s already been building for years that have regularly challenged the playoffs than one he’d have to rebuild from scratch. I wanted Dunfermline to go for Petrie as that would mean all the teams expected to be near the top end of our league would have new managers, but the reality is that Montrose’s stability might give them an advantage this coming season, or at least negate the disadvantage of being a part time team in what is quickly becoming a full time (at least at the top end) league.

Clearly the one you were talking about the other day then?

I’d love us to sign him. There’s a reason he made the PFA’s team of the year for our league. Seven Cove players, three Airdrie players, and Cammy Ballantyne. Best right back in the league for me.

As much as I laughed at McKinnon’s failure at Falkirk I’d take him if he’s fit enough to work at the moment. He’s probably one of the better options actually. And I think the last couple of seasons have made it clear that while He certainly could’ve done a better job at Falkirk, he wasn’t the only issue at the club and the failure wasn’t his alone.

Wasn’t Paul Ronald heavily involved in Accies’ youth coaching round around the time McCarthy and McArthur came through? I wouldn’t be filled with optimism by his appointment but I suppose that’s something. In my opinion what we need is someone with some decent experience (i.e. not his first management job) but also not a dinosaur like Jim Duffy or Yogi Hughes. Preferably someone who can come in and continue Murray’s work, rather than someone who will try to completely change everything at the club. Not sure who my preferred realistic option is yet as there are a few that seem fine but none that really jump out.

Interesting that the club are looking for new stadium sponsors after the Penny Cars deal has ended, rather than Penny Cars extending theirs. Can’t wait for home games at the Black Rooster Peri Peri Stadium.

Former African Cup of Nations champion Efe Ambrose?

I’ve pretty much always backed Murray and he definitely improved us, albeit gradually, during his tenure. But I agree he got it wrong in the playoffs. Once Kerr was fit to play he should’ve been back in the team and Agnew should have dropped out with McCabe moving into midfield. It’s something a lot of us had been calling for for ages. I couldn’t believe his subs in the second leg against Queen’s Park. You might think of Simon Murray’s penalty hitting the back of the net, or even Easton’s foul in the box, as the moment that resigned us to defeat. But at 1-1 when Callum Smith was subbed off I’d basically accepted defeat. He was the last player left on the pitch I felt could score the winner for us after others had also been subbed off. His recruitment, however, was pretty much always bang on. And you can’t take away from him, despite ultimately failing to get promotion in the end, he put together the best Airdrie team and years and gave us the best football in years. That unbeaten run really was special. Good luck to him at Raith Rovers. I imagine if given time he’ll be a success.

If I was the on the board I’d be contacting Jack Ross. He’ll never join us but you know what they say…

Is it Yogi Hughes?

I hope the club have been preparing to find a replacement since Murray’s been in talks. If it takes us 2-3 weeks from now to appoint a new manager who would decide which players of the current squad are offered a new deal? How many are going to sign a new deal without a manager?

That one was mentioned before we lost to QP. Might be that he’d have signed if we got promoted and Murray stayed, especially considering he’s played under Murray before.

I’d imagine the club will offer everyone except Pyott, Walker and Ritchie a new deal. Unsure about Cantley or McDonald as they might be kept as back ups and it’s hard to know the situation with Lyons since he’s been out all season, but recent history suggests we’ll give him another year as we did so with Scott Gallacher, Craig Thomson, and even Pyott through their injury problems. Also unsure about Gabby and Jordan Allan as the club might only be keen to keep one in order to make room for a new forward. Smith and Kouider-Aissa obviously already signed up. I’d say out of the rest there’s a danger of McCabe, Frizzell, Easton leaving for a better offer elsewhere and Kerr leaving for more game time. I’d say that gives us Currie, Fordyce, Watson, Agnew, Gallagher, Smith, Kouider-Aissa as definite members of next season’s squad and I’d expect Lyons and one of Allan or McGill to be added to that, though I’m less sure with them. We’d do really well to keep McCabe, Easton and Frizzell and I expect Easton and Frizzell to probably be off but I’m hopeful McCabe will stay. Even if we kept all three we’ll still need to bring in a lot of players to replace departing loanees, particularly in defence, and if they leave we’ll need an entirely new midfield.

He’s the really tall striker that got a bad injury against us when he was at Montrose isn’t he? Decent record and I’d like us to have an option up front with height like that but I haven’t really seen enough of him to know what type of striker he is. Might be worth a punt.

The problem is that if Murray leave we’ll also be in transition. Hopefully Dunfermline steal Petrie to put Montrose into that category rather than ourselves. Agree on the priorities. I love Easton but imo he’s not as important as the likes of McCabe and Frizzell. Think you’re spot on about adding a bit physicality at the back while maintaining what we have making us potentially a favourite for the league.

I’m worried that a certain Mr Ian Murray might be an inevitability here

Has Yogi actually been sacked?

Just looked back at the statement from last year and you're actually spot on, it doesn’t specify the length of Murray’s extension. I think one year is implied and I’m about 99% sure it was definitely a one year extension, but it wasn’t explicitly stated in that statement at least.