Gill loses pacy attacker as MacRae makes the switch to Mid Argyll

Oliver MacRae, the pacy Kinlochshiel attacker, will be lost to the Wester Ross club this season after signing for Glasgow Mid Argyll.

The stonemason, 23, from Achmore commuted from his job in Glasgow last season to play for Kyles but swaps Premiership action for the National Division.

Oliver was captain of Scotland’s under-21 team in 2014 and two years later was voted Marine Harvest National under-21 player of the year.

He has won Premiership and Macaulay Cup winner’s medals with Shiel.

Johnston Gill, the Shiel manager, said: “We’ve lost Oliver because he is working in the south and we respect his decision.

“He’s been a fine player for our club and we hope he can rejoin us at some stage in the future.”

Former Oban Celtic player Mark Bain is the new Mid Argyll manager after 13 years as a player for the club and is delighted to snap up MacRae in his team’s bid for a quick return to the top flight.

Kinlochshiel stalwart Fraser MacVicar, who works offshore, is retiring.

Manager Gill said: “Fraser’s always been good at helping us out but he’s told me he’s decided to retire as a player.

“With those two out of the reckoning, it’s very important that promising players like Duncan Matheson and Duncan Macrae step up another level.”

Students Matheson, 17, and Macrae, 18, gained fairly regular game time last year but are poised to become frequent this year.

With goalkeeper Scott Kennedy having indicated his retiral, Gill has asked Scott’s brother Graham Kennedy, the second-team goalkeeper, to consider becoming his successor.

Graham is now 46 but has plenty of first-team experience.

Gill said: “Graham’s wife is expecting so he’ll starters probably miss the the season.

“We’ve a couple of young players who are potential goalkeeping replacements but they want to play for the second team and gain experience.

“I don’t rule out approaching Scott to help us out for the first few weeks.”

Lee Bain is unavailable but otherwise Kingussie have a full squad for their visit to Caberfeidh. start of