BOSS HAS VIRTUAL O&A DATE WITH FANS
Rutkiewicz to reveal plans for next season
Stirling Albion fans will have the chance to put questions to manager Kevin Rutkiewicz and the board at a Q&A session via a Zoom conference call.
It will take place on Monday, June 8, at 7.30pm. Supporters who are interested in taking part are asked to contact Forthbank via e-mail (office@stirlingalbionfc.co.uk) by 5pm tomorrow (Thursday).
Rutkiewicz believes it’s important the club stay connected with the fans during these uncertain times and is looking forward to the event next week.
He said: “We have communicated with the players on a regular basis during lockdown and they all feel we have handled this situation fairly well – we have had some Zoom calls with them and kept them in the loop. We now think this is a good opportunity to give the fans a chance to ask about the squad for next season.
“The chairman, Stuart Brown, and I had discussed this a number of weeks ago and now feels like a good time.
“It also gives me a chance to let the fans know that any bit of business we have done has not put the club in any danger whatsoever no matter what the situation will be regards next season.
“I think some fans have been worried that we are re-signing players when other clubs are not and this meeting gives them a chance to ask questions about that or anything else.
“I’m sure they will also ask if we have established transfer targets and we certainly have. James Creaney and I have a lot of potential players to sift through this week.
“Since the lockdown started, I’ve been making lists based on the best, worst and as-you-were budget scenarios.”
Ross McGeachie, David Wilson, Cammy Thomson, James Creaney, Kyle Banner, Dom Docherty, Sean Heaver, Dylan Mackin, Jordan McGregor, Paul McLean and Blair Currie are the 11 players currently under contract for 2020/21 and Rutkiewicz is looking to add around half a dozen new signings.
He added: “We’ll definitely be going with a smaller squad than last year and I’m sure a lot of clubs will be the same so hopefully we can avoid too many injuries.”
Meanwhile, the Binos and the other SPFL clubs could benefit from potential Covid-19 financial support from Edinburgh-based philanthropist James Anderson following talks on Monday.
SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster said: “We had a very constructive and worthwhile discussion with James and we agreed on the need to progress things as swiftly as possible. The offer from James is an extremely generous one and we have committed to work together to quickly iron out the details and develop a concrete proposal which could make a significant difference to our 42 clubs.”