Trialists’ session at Broadwood pays off

Carluke Rovers’plan to stage a trialist recruitment initiative with a pre-season opener at Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld looks like paying dividends.

Club chairman Ian Mcknight said:“the event went very well. We had 16 players taking part, including four new players from Glasgow.

“Three or four of our new players were on holiday, and a couple had other commitments over the weekend.

“The two-hour session included a moderate training session and a chance to talk with the visitors, some of whom looked very promising.

“Colin Slater and his assistant Andy Barr seemed pleased with what they saw.”

Slater was restricted in his participation after snapping an Achilles tendon while playing for the Rovers over-35s at East Kilbride earlier this month.

As his leg was in plaster, it restricted his activity in getting players signed, but he has now managed to re-sign 10 of last season’s squad, including Gordon Bruce, John Wilson, Steve Murray, Mark Haddow, Craig Stark, Ian Watt, Keith Mcdougall, Mark Weir and Reece Lowden.

Ryan Smillie, top scorer last season, has transferred to Wishaw.

Mcknight said:“we’ve also been talking to the four players who took part in the recruitment day exercise, but these will be continued once we’ve had a chance to get in some training sessions, and perhaps an early friendly.”

In addition to the Newmains United 10th anniversary competition on July 16/17, Rovers will play away games at Lugar Boswell Thistle (July 23), Lanark United in the Clydesdale Cup semi-final