Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
ROVERS CASH WOE AS INJURIES STRIKE
Albion Rovers boss Kevin Harper admits he doesn’t know if he has the budget to strengthen in the January transfer window.
While teams in League Two will be looking for their own bargains the gaffer reckons the Cliftonhill coffers may be bare at the start of the new decade.
However, he believes that it could be vital to boost the numbers in his injuryplagued squad.
Key defenders Lewis Wilson and Callum Home have been sidelined, with a raft of midfielders including Will Graham, Scott Roberts, Jordan Stewart and Nicki Paterson all missing.
The boss still has a new centremidfielder and centre-back on his wish list for the new year.
He expects fellow strugglers Brechin and Stenhousemuir to spend big in this window as they look to avoid the dreaded relegation play-off y place p come the end of the campaign.
“At the end of the day for us it comes down to finances,” he told ld the Advertiser.
“It’s true of all ll clubs that they y will be looking g to strengthen n but whether it’s in our budget is something we will need to sit down and take a look at.
“We will have ve a look at what is out there. We have had a lot of injuries so far this season so that hasn’t helped us. We have had to bring in a few young boys to the squad and on the bench.
“We can look at loans or other deals but it will all be down to budget. g I want to get a couple in even just to he lp motivate the players we have in the starting line-up.
“That really helps the squad when you are fighting for places like we were after January last season.
“To be honest, I don’t know how muchmu we will have to spend. I don’t know kn how much of a budget we will have. ha
“I do know that we have a good squad, squ but everyone will be looking to strengthen. stre I don’t doubt that Brechin and Stenhousemuir will look to bring in s some new bodies.
“You “Y want to keep the players on their toestoe and in some positions we haven’t beenbee able to do that this season.
“That “Th has had a detrimental effect on the players. In an ideal world I would wantwan to bring in another couple. We neednee to strengthen at centre- back and in centre-midfield because due to in injuries that is where we have been weakest.”