Host of trialists to turn out for Smith’s side in friendly

Brechin City boss Barry Smith will run the rule over a host of trialists in the club’s first pre-season friendly against Dundee at Glebe Park today, writes Neil Robertson.

The manager has had to embark on a major squad rebuilding job following his team’s relegation from League 1 last season.

Smith admitted earlier this week that it was the toughest transfer window he has ever operated in but he is edging closer to filling his roster with the right mix of experience and younger players.

He said: “We need to get the balance right. We need young, hungry players but we also need a core of experience as well with the likes of Ryan McCord, Dougie Hill and Paul McManus. “These guys will help the young ones. “So we hope we are getting the right balance and obviously we still have some players to bring in.

“We are trying to rebuild. It has been a tough couple of seasons for Brechin, for supporters, the club as a whole.”

Smith said: “So we are trying to rebuild and there are only two players still here who were at the club last year.

“That’s for various reasons – some lads that we wanted to keep had better offers from a higher division while with others we felt it was the right time to move on.

“It is a work in progress because we are starting from the base line.

“But we are hopeful that we will get it right – get the right players with the right attitude in.”

Smith admitted that with today’s game so early in the season against Championship outfit Dundee, it will be a big test for his players.

Smith said: “We will be looking at a number of guys who have been in training with us.

“It is still early in pre-season for us and the boys are doing all the hard work on a Tuesday and a Thursday.

“But it will be good to get a game against Dundee.”

Today’s match kicks off at 1pm.