1320Lichtie

https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/sport/football/highland-league/6442330/grady-mcgrath-looks-set-to-depart-highland-league-brechin/ Got Leighton McIntosh and Calum Gallagher signed for next season but be a decent option and maybe one for the future Wonder where he’ll go

https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/sport/football/highland-league/6442330/grady-mcgrath-looks-set-to-depart-highland-league-brechin/ Be a good 3rd choice

All good comments - I think if a Part Time team makes it into the Championship then they need to try and capitalise on it off the park with their support and infrastructure - that would set them in good stead going forward. I think it is fair to say that we have done that. I would never want to see us move away from just being a part time club either though, for what? I don’t see what’s wrong about being happy with that. We will never be a Premiership club so if we can go up and compete in the Championship during our more successful seasons, which we and others can - then why change your entire set up. A lot of these FT clubs are financially a mess. It is not about being unambitious or anything like that which are comments I read sometimes it is just that everyone has their place in the pyramid. In the same way there are several Championship clubs who at their peak may be lower half Prem teams and at their lowest may be L1 teams. To be honest after this and last season, you quickly come to realise that the only thing that matters is enjoying watching your team and being happy on Saturday afternoons more often than not regardless of what division you are in. Never take that for granted

I had these fears But Hamilton staying has made me change my mind I don’t think it’s anything to do with money either it seems a bit far fetched for me to think EF couldn’t match or atleast get very close to the wages we could give certain players especially with the Campbells there I feel like a lot of them probably feel similarly to us, love the guy but he had turned into an absolute gobshite and had seriously lost the plot by the end The Bobby comments never sat well with me at all and can’t imagine the players would’ve been too fond of them either. The fact that the fans singing a players name was ‘getting on the managers tits’ is just a bizarre thing to say It’ll be interesting to see how he gets on next year

I think he would see it as one last chance to maybe play in the Premiership, Falkirk a big club too - it would be appealing but like you I would love to see him stay another couple years. Also the Courier seem to have stopped putting articles online, cannot find this one either.

You are spot on. I think the biggest hurdle, in my opinion, is that it is incredibly hard to turn over players and continue to be decent when you are part time. There is zero let up in the Championship every week is a battle. If you are slightly off it you will struggle. The pool of part time players good enough to compete in the Championships a lot smaller in comparison to the large amount of Full Time players good enough to play in the division. I also think there is a noticeable difference in intensity in the Championship. We have been absolutely riddled with injuries all season. 8-12 players out some weeks. The strength of our squad just could not compete but the teams above us are hardly world beaters either. It is just hard to build up a very good squad of part time players, all the best part time players will not want to come to your club to sit on the bench. It’s a much harder job to stay in the league for a prolonged period of time when you’re part time but there’s no reason why well run and well organised part time clubs and teams cannot go up and do well. I actually think we ruined every good thing we had going when we attempted to go hybrid at the beginning of last season (22/23) and I think we’ve not really recovered from it even now. We have signed 13 ‘Full Time’ players and the only good one has been Jay Bird. They also were only ever going to be here for a season at most so you kind of lose all the benefit of a team and squad unit when you start going down that road. We’d have been much better off staying fully part time.

LD is at Alloa yeah. He was at Arbroath but he left last season. We signed some absolutely hopeless Full Time players who come and stayed in the town, they seemed to be the way Dick was trying to go at the start of last year ( start of 2022/23 ) and guys like LD were allowed to leave by Dick. I think Gaston could be a shout for you especially if Rab Douglas is returning as a keeper coach. I would happily still have him around next season for us but not sure if McIntyre is keen he’s not been playing him. He would be such a safe and simple signing for McIntyre so it kind of feels like McIntyre has another keeper lined up.

Maybe depends on what Delaney is doing outside of football just now. If he’s managed to get himself a decent job doing whatever and is settled in Scotland maybe we could pull that off. That seems too good to be true though.

After double checking Hammy is not even that old. 32 next month. He could still be here for years. I am not too sure over him at left back long term but like you say he will not be up against young Full Time flying machines this season and he will have had a full pre season to recover from his injury. I think he’s a cracking centre half though and would love to see him play in there with Tam.

ToB signed for another 3 years, to be honest I was absolutely certain Hammy would be away back to join Dick but him staying has made me think that even the players were maybe fed up of his pish. If Hammy, Stewart, Goldie all here then imagine ToB would probably want to stay too regardless. He’d get a testimonial if he did too which is another incentive. Slater is signed. Murray is signed and was a McIntyre signing. McIntosh signed already. Lyon hasn’t signed and I would be happy to see him sign too. I don’t think Gaston will be getting offered a deal so maybe him. McIntyre doesn’t seem to fancy him

As it stands - updated - Keeper Steele ToB Hammy Left Back Stewart / Stowe Slater Gold Dow / Murray McIntosh Gallagher Would love it if we somehow managed to get Delaney signed. Would imagine he will get a good FT gig though. Think Gaston would be a smart signing although not sure what McIntyre will do there. Then would love it if Lyon signed as a squad player. Kind of resigned to losing McKenna but maybe we will end up surprised like we are with Hammy. It is a very good start

ToB and Hammy as a centre half pairing would be fantastic If Hammy has not went then not sure who would Think this might’ve taken Dick by surprise a wee bit. Maybe the players were even a wee bitty fed up of his pish

McKenna is going to Falkirk* Gold / Steele were already signed However East Fife were absolutely in for Hammy and he has turned it down to stay here. I think this will have been a bit of a surprise for Dick and if Hammy has not went to EF then I’m not sure who will be going I mean you can have Jacobs if you want him - he’ll not be getting another contract here Eta - I think he’s going to Falkirk*

He could’ve easily went and played for Dick again. Heard Dick had openly been saying he was going to raid Arbroath… for who? Who could he even really get now If anything is a big show of support for McIntyre then it is this he could’ve easily been away

Well I am massively wrong again - shock horror!!!!!! However that surely shows that players want to be here. He could’ve easily been away. Very very very promising