The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Disappointed Price already planning ahead
Elgin City manager Gavin Price is already planning for a renewed promotion drive next season after the bitter disappointment of fading from play-off contention.
A narrow defeat to Peterhead on Saturday ended faint Borough Briggs hopes of snatching a top-four finish.
It was a frustrating end to a first campaign in charge for Price, the former St Johnstone and Den Haag striker, who took the reins when Jim Weir quit in October.
But the Perthbased businessman is determined to quickly set aside the disappointment and make sure Elgin bounce back stronger next season.
That will entail careful recruitment and setting in place building blocks for a better squad, with Price hinting he already has signing targets in mind.
The 43-year-old stressed: “We’ve already put some of the blocks in place so we need to start organising for next year.
“I thought we deserved to get something”
We will assess where we have fallen short this season, where we have done well, and then look to ensure we come back better and stringer for next season.”
Defeat to their northerly rivals in the penultimate match of the season killed promotion hopes that were, in truth, damaged long before.
Elgin began positively in League 2 only to be damaged by spells of inconsistency with a disastrous December bringing four defeats and a draw, including a seven-goal battering from the Blue Toon. That was followed by a streak of four wins from five games but City never maintained winning form long enough to cement a play-off place.
Price added: “I thought we deserved to get something from the game.
“The players showed real passion, commitment and teamwork, so I’m disappointed with the result.”