I still browse often Dan not as active as I would like to be but I'll certainly pop over soon. In all honesty, there coaching attributes are...well. terrible. We're the only ones that would take them!
With an entire squad of English players due to arrive at the squad over the next few seasons, there's certain to be a few comings and goings at the club and despite me being in charge for just under a month I was keen to get to work in transforming the squad.
With just three departures, attempts to clear some space for some new English talent didn't exactly go as planned.
Former Player/Manager Ian Little was the first to depart as my arrival saw him leave the club that adored him, with the forty year old striker setting off on his own managerial adventure. Veteran central defender Grant McNicholl was next to be shown the door as the Scot set off for Bo'ness united for a massive thirty five quid, whilst last to leave was the only non British player in the team, South African Devon Jacobs. The Right back is a fairly strong player at this level and would certainly have had a role to play in the coming season but when Lincoln City came calling we were quick to take advantage of some quick cash, scooping just under six thousand pounds.
Not the overhaul that I was expecting but no the less progress has been made and I was quick to bring in some new faces to the team.
From: Out of Contract
First arrival of my English revolution is former Celtic youth player, Travis Gregory. Having never made a first team appearance for Celtic it appears Gregorys career has already hit a rather large stumbling block but having impressed in the Scottish trailists game, we were quick to bring the Eighteen year old into the squad.
Cost: Free
From: Annan Athletic
As one of the brightest goalkeeping prospects in the division, why Annan chose to let him join us on a free is beyond me, but there loss is our gain as we welcome,
Alex Mitchell to Berwick. The young goalkeeper has already played out two full seasons in the division and will be our number one between the posts for the coming campaign.
Cost: Free
From: Sauchie
Having been part of the crazy gang of Wimbledon way back in the Nineties,
Bryn Halliwells career has long since fazed out in Scotland having worked his way down the footballing pyramid to end up wallowing at non-league Sauchie, he was more then willing for a second chance at Berwick Rangers, despite being back-up to
Mitchell.
Cost: Free
From: Stirling University
Another youngster to bolster our defence, all be it not a ready made centre back but the nineteen year old has plenty of potential to one day become a rock at the heart of our defence. With a host of Scots ahead of him in the pecking order, its going to take a while for
Oli Monguel to squeeze into the first team.
Cost: Free
From: Out of Contract
From the same academy that created Gareth Bale and Theo Walcott,
Jack Boyle hasn't quite reached the same heights as his former team-mates. Having turned to Scotland for an attempt at salvaging his career,
Boyle hasn't exactly been able to hit the ground running but an open spot on the wing at Berwick gives the Twenty One year old the opportunity he has been craving.
Cost: Free
From: Out of Contract
We had to fight to get him and with one of the largest wages in the squad Twenty year old
Curtis Jones has a lot to live up to. Like
Travis Gregory, hes formerly from Celtics books but having yet to make an appearance the promising defender has had to set out on his own to find some all important game time.
Cost:Free
From: Albion Rovers
The final signing of the season, sees the arrival of
Pat Walker. The experienced striker has been in the division for over a decade but has never really shown his true quality, with a sharp finish and tireless pace he has the ability to cause defences all kinds of problems at this level but getting the most out of him is sure to be key to our seasons hopes.
So it turned out to be a rather busier then expected transfer window. With three departures and seven arrivals at the club its fair to say numbers have swelled a bit. With a couple of surplus players unable to be shifted it has left me with a rather bloated wage bill but as the season goes on we'll hopefully shift some dead weight.
