Contract News: Four Sign On/Barron Going Nowhere
Four members of the Nairn County first team squad have signed contract extensions as Les Fridge seeks to retain the core of his players ahead of next season. And rumours linking captain Willie Barron with a move away from Station Park have been dismissed by the manager.
Brothers Glenn and Gregg Main, Scott Nicholl and Marc MacDonald have all put pen to paper ahead of the final two games of the 2008-09 season.
Glenn Main joined Nairn from junior neighbours Nairn St Ninian in the summer of 2007 on a three-year
Fridge commented: "Glenn has done really well for us since coming into the team. He has had to be patient and wait for his chance but when he got it, he took it. He has now come into the team, done well and is being rewarded for that with goals. We're delighted that he was willing to commit to a four-year deal."
Main's brother Gregg has also committed himself to the club until the end of the 2012-2013 season. The diminutive midfielder is
Marc MacDonald completes the trio of Nairn-based players who have committed their future to their hometown club. The wideman looked to be on his way out of Station Park with his contract due to expire in the summer as he toiled while out on loan at Strathspey Thistle. But since being recalled to the club ahead of schedule in February, he has revitalised his career and made some important contributions in recent weeks. And it has been enough to earn him a fresh three-year contract with the club.
After debuting as a 16-year-old in 2003, MacDonald made several fleeting appearances in the years that followed without managing to nail down a regular starting position. He enjoyed a fruitful loan stint at Nairn St Ninian during the 2005-06 season where he excelled at right back. He returned to Station Park for two years before being sent out on loan again last summer, this time to Strathspey. But it is since his return to the club almost two months ago that he has arguably made his biggest impact on the team. Fridge stated: "Marc has come back to us and impressed. His contract was up for renewal in the summer so we have agreed a new three-year contract with him. He was brought back from Strathspey and has come off the bench to good effect recently, playing a big part in the winning goals against Inverurie Locos and Brora Rangers."
The final player to agree new terms is Scott Nicholl. The often injury-plagued full back is the longest serving player at the club who was signed by Fridge, having joined from Clachnacuddin in November 2004. After establishing himself as a regular in the side upon his arrival at the club, Nicholl has been hit by a number of injury setbacks and has only made a minimal number of appearances over the last few years. But having come back into the squad after the turn of year, Fridge has seen enough to reward the former Ross County youth with a new two-year deal. He commented: "Scott Nicholl has been out with one injury or another for the best part of two years if the truth be told. But the club have stuck by him and he has now come through it. He has come back into the fray and we were happy to agree a new contract with him."
The manager added: "Three of the boys who have signed new deals are local while Scotty only comes from Inverness. It is good for the club that they all wanted to extend their stay with us."
Meanwhile, speculation had been mounting that club captain Willie Barron was on the verge of joining Elgin City. But when Nairn County FC Online grilled Fridge about the prospect of losing his skipper, the manager laughed off the story. He revealed: "I have been speaking to Ross Jack (Elgin manager) quite a lot recently about one thing or another, especially with the recent Steven Edwards transfer. He never once mentioned Willie Barron so it was news to me and it was news to him.
"Willie is our captain and he is under contract with the club. He is a local boy and as far as I am aware, he is happy here and he is settled here."
County will be looking to improve their poor end-of-season form when local neighbours Forres Mechanics visit Station Park tomorrow night. Fridge will be without the services of Scott Graham and Chris Finnigan while John Campbell and Glenn Main are doubts with work and college commitments respectively. The manager added: "It would be nice to finish the season on a high. We hit the 40-point mark last season and we need to win our two remaining games to hit 40 points again, which would be nice.
"We have been playing well of late and we will be looking to keep that up, although we will need to find a killer touch in front of goal because it has been lacking of late."
Tomorrow's match kicks off at 8 pm before Nairn end their season by hosting Buckie Thistle at Station Park on Saturday (3 pm kick off).