NEW FACES FOR BINOS
Mackay ready to announce signings
Stirling Albion boss Dave Mackay expects to be able to confirm new additions to his squad in the near future as he looks to get his work done early for 2018/19.
Mackay has so far snapped up Elgin City full-back Jordan Allan and St Johnstone midfielder Danny Jardine, following a loan spell last season, as well as striker Kevin Fell from Glasgow-based amateur side UB United.
Of last season’s squad, Kyle Banner, Darren Barr, Cammy Binnie, Liam Caddis, Lee Hamilton, Kevin Moon, Willie Robertson and Ross McGeachie are all on board for next term, with midfielder Caddis and goalkeeper Binnie this week becoming the latest players to agree new deals.
Stirling are confident that 25-goal forward Darren Smith will accept the contract offer on the table and that would take to the squad for next season up to 12.
Another goalkeeper is on the manager’s wish list and there will be further new arrivals, with loan deals a possibility. The future of full-back Ewan McNeil and veteran forward Peter MacDonald ●To join the club, or for more information please contact Callander Bowling Club through Facebook at facebook.com/ callanderbowlingclub or Active Stirling at gebbiet@activestirling. org.uk. remains unclear and may depend on what Albion are able to do in terms of bringing others in.
Mackay said: “We are hopeful of having some news soon on the signing front. We start back pre-season training on Thursday, June 21 and ideally I’d like to have most of our business done by then so we are ready to go.
“It’s been a busy couple of weeks and sometimes things don’t happen as quickly as you would like for a variety of reasons. There have been a lot of phone calls but we are getting there.
“I expect us to have a smaller squad than last year because I don’t think you need too many players and Alloa and Peterhead are probably examples of that. Because you can have seven substitutes on the bench it maybe leads to bigger squads but it’s not always necessary.
“You run a risk with injuries but I’d rather have more quality in a smaller squad because we have a limited budget and some of our U20s will be given the chance to prove they are worthy of being part of the first-team squad when we play pre-season friendlies. The loan market is obviously something we will look at because it offers us good value.”
Meanwhile, Stirling Albion could face Hearts when the draw for the group stage of the Betfred Cup draw is made tonight (Friday), live on BT Sport 2 at 6.30pm.
It’s more than 30 years since Stirling last played at Tynecastle and a trip to the revamped stadium would be something to look forward to for players and fans alike.
The SPFL revealed the seeding pots on Wednesday, with the Binos among the 12 unseeded clubs in the north section of the draw. That means they are guaranteed to play one of Hearts, St Johnstone, Dundee or Ross County, who are all first seeds.
A pairing with local rivals Falkirk for the third year in a row is also a possibility as the Bairns are second seeds, along with Dundee United, Dunfermline Athletic and Inverness Caley Thistle, who beat Albion 2-0 on penalties after a 0-0 draw at Forthbank in last season’s tournament.
There will be eight groups of five in all, meaning Stirling will face two fellow nonseeds in their section – local rivals Alloa Athletic, Highland League champions Cove Rangers and the Angus quartet of Arbroath, Brechin City, Forfar Athletic and Montrose are among their potential opponents.
The Betfred Cup group stage begins on the weekend of Saturday, July 14 and concludes a fortnight later, with all clubs playing on four of the five matchdays. The full fixture list and TV selections are not expected to be announced until next week.