Andy’s30th celebrations areonhold
Stirling manager’s plans for next season move forward as trio sign deals to stay put
Andy Murray will be hoping to hold off his 30th birthday celebrations until Sunday and the end of the Italian Open in Rome.
He reached 30 on Monday and he will be looking to improve on recent weeks when he has had more downs than ups.
The Dunblane ace goes into this week’s event as the holder and last year his success in Rome was the catalyst for a magnificent 2016 run which saw him land the Wimbledon title, Olympic gold and reach No 1 in the world.
He was due on court last night against Italian Fabio Fognini
Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares will meet American duo John Isner and Jack Sock in a second round doubles tie.
Stirling Albion boss Dave Mackay has retained three more of his squad for next season, including joint-top scorer Darren Smith.
Mackay confirmed on Monday night that the ex-Motherwell, Ross County and Stenhousemuir forward would be staying at Forthbank for 2017/18, which followed the weekend news that versatile duo Liam Caddis and Andy Black had also agreed terms.
That means nine of last season’s squad have now been retained — the others being Cammy Binnie, Scott Davidson, Ross McGeachie, Connor McMullan, Willie Robertson and Ross Smith — while Ross Kavanagh and Blair Henderson were already under contract.
Smith was voted Supporters’ Club Player of the Year after netting 12 goals, the same number as Henderson, with 11 of them coming in Ladbrokes League Two.
Now in his second spell with the club, the 29 year-old has the ability to both create and score goals and was a key player as the team climbed from the relegation zone to the fringes of the promotion play-offs in the spring.
Caddis was previously with St Johnstone but joined the Binos in January following a spell in Junior football with Ardrossan, while ex-Dundee man Black also arrived halfway through the season, again following a spell in the Juniors.
Mackay said: “It’s good to get Darren on board again for next season, he can bring a lot to the team and is capable of scoring even more goals. Liam and Andy can play in midfield or defence and, if we are going to run with a smaller squad, it’s good to have players who can play in different positions.
“It was important to get the business done as soon as possible, otherwise you risk losing players to other clubs. We are also working to get new players in and hopefully we can do that soon. Some of them are involved in play-offs, so obviously they want to get those out the way first but full backs are the priority.
“The budget will be much the same as it was last year. I had a positive meeting with the chairman and the board last week and I’m excited for the new season. Hopefully we can strengthen in key areas and then I think we’ll have a decent team.”
Mackay is also confident that ex-Rangers, Port Vale and Preston striker Andy Little will put pen to paper for 2017/18 and is awaiting an answer on a contract offer.
The 27-year-old Northern Ireland internationalist made a number of substitute appearances before a serious head injury sustained in a training-ground accident ended his campaign.
The Albion boss added: “Andy seems more determined than ever to get back playing and I think he has seen the head injury as a wake-up call to get his career moving again.”
Meanwhile, former Stirling favourite Jordan White, whose goals helped fire the team to promotion via the play-offs in 2013/14, has left Wrexham but a return to Forthbank seems remote.
Mackay said: “If he’s available to parttime clubs then we’d be interested but I’m sure he will want to stay full-time.”
The Binos boss will speak to Sean Dickson when the midfielder returns from holiday and is also planning further talks with veteran defender Frazer Wright and player/assistant Ross Forsyth.
He is also hoping to finalise plans for a friendly match or two ahead of the new campaign, which begins with the group stage of the Betfred Cup on Saturday, July 15.