Finances dictate Loons’ decision over reserves

Forfar have decided “with a heavy heart” against entering a team in next season’s SPFL Reserve League and will instead plough their resources into “putting a very competitive firstteam squad on the pitch”.

The Loons have operated in the Development League structure in recent years and insist they would have continued to do so had the decision not been taken to replace it with a reserve set-up.

The Station Park outfit insist their finances could not stretch to operating a big enough squad to cope with the new structure and have decided to opt out.

A statement read: “After lengthy deliberations at management and board level, Forfar Athletic have advised the SPFL that they will not be entering a team next season in the proposed midweek Reserve League.

“On reflection, it has been decided that to have a large enough pool to be competitive at Reserve League level would be a bridge to far for the club’s resources and, to be quite honest, finances at this time.

“Instead, for at least one season as the situation will continually be reviewed, all efforts will be focused on putting a very competitive firstteam squad on the pitch.

“This was not a decision taken lightly by those involved at the highest level within the club and in fact has in many ways been taken with a heavy heart.”

Arbroath boss Dick Campbell has poured cold water on rumours that he was planning to sign Queen’s Park’s player of the year David Galt.

The 27-year-old is in demand after being released by the Spiders but will not be heading to Gayfield. Alloa, Airdrie and Stranraer have all spoken to Galt with the Wasps believed to be favourites to land him.