Binos still chasing players
Spanish trip for Riverside youngsters Mackay wants another four
Stirling Albion manager Dave Mackay is still hoping to add four new players to his squad ahead of the new season.
The Binos return to competitive action in Betfred Cup Group D next month with ties at home to Dundee and Brechin City and away to Peterhead and Dunfermline Athletic. The SPFL will publish the 2018/19 league fixtures at 9am on Friday with the campaign getting under way on Saturday, August 4. Mackay (left) is targeting a goalkeeper, a striker, a defender and a wide player after bringing in midfielder Danny Jardine (St Johnstone), forwards Kevin Fell (UB United) and Mark Stewart (Dumbarton), and full-back Jordan Allan (Elgin City). He said: “I’m reasonably happy with where we are at the moment but we are continuing to work hard to bring players in. “We’ve missed out on a couple of targets – we were perhaps quite ambitious with one or two of the players we wanted – but we have others on the list. “I don’t expect to be announcing anything in the next few days but we’ll be speaking to people again later in the week. “Some clubs have done quite a bit of business already but others not so much. “It’s possible a couple of the signings might be loan players but in those cases nothing would happen until nearer the start of the season as clubs won’t want to commit at this stage. “We need someone to provide competition for Cammy Binnie and another striker. There’s still a possibility that Peter MacDonald could be here next season but he has other clubs interested.” Albion have lined up four preseason SEE PAGE 52 friendlies, all of them away from home. Mackay’s men face Airdrieonians at the Penny Cars Stadium (the new name for the Excelsior Stadium) on Tuesday, June 26, kick-off 7.30pm, less than a week after returning to training.
The Binos head south to play Lowland League side Dalbeattie Star on Saturday, June 30, kick-off 2pm.
Stirling have good memories of their last visit to Islecroft Park in September 2012 when they thrashed Star 5-0 in a Scottish Cup tie a week before shocking Rangers at Forthbank despite being bottom of the Third Division.
East Kilbride, who were pipped by Spartans for the Lowland League title on the last day of the season, welcome Albion to K-Park on Wednesday, July 4, kick-off 7.45pm.
Stirling are back on their travels again on Saturday, July 7, when they make the long haul to the south-west of the country to play Stevie Farrell’s Stranraer. Kick-off at Stair Park has now been confirmed for 3pm.
Mackay said: “We weren’t able to get Forthbank this summer because the pitch maintenance was delayed due to PFA Exit trials.
“We might add another one in the midweek before we begin the season against Dundee.”
Meanwhile, Mackay has praised Active Stirling groundsman Graeme Glen for having the Forthbank pitch in such good condition in 2017/18.
The surface was voted best in the SPFL in a survey carried out by PFA Scotland and the Scottish FA and Mackay said: “I’m not surprised because there are always positive comments from our opponents about the state of the pitch.
“YIt was a deserved award for Graeme. He does a great job and I’m sure it will be the same again next season.”