Transfer News: Hind Signs As Two Move On
Former Elgin City captain David Hind has become Nairn County's newest recruit after putting pen to paper on a deal until the end of the season at Station Park. But the club is still awaiting SFA clearance to play the defender/midfielder in tomorrow's home match against Lossiemouth.
County beat off stiff competition from the likes of Forres Mechanics and Buckie Thistle to secure the services of the diminutive 26-year-old, who became available on a free after severing his ties at Borough Briggs over the festive period.
"I was interested in bringing him here a couple of years ago but he decided to stay at Elgin. Now he has become available again so I had a chat with him and he's signed with us until the end of the season so we're happy with that."
Fridge has pointed to his squad's lack of experience on several occasions recently. But the arrival of Hinds will bump up the average age of the team, despite the player still being in his mid-20s. Fridge added: "David has played in the Scottish Leagues for about seven or eight seasons. He's also been the captain of Elgin and previous to that he was full time at Inverness CT so he will bring a lot to the table. I certainly expect him to."
Despite Hind's versatility in being able to play at the back or in a
The club insist they have done all they can in order to have Hind available for tomorrow's match. But it all depends on the registration and transfer papers arriving at SFA Headquarters in time for the governing body to give Fridge the green light to select his new signing tomorrow.
Meanwhile, transfer-listed defender Neil MacDonald has joined Golspie Sutherland for a nominal fee. Fridge added: "Neil started out well with us but he has recently changed his job which meant that he was struggling to train with us and make it on a Saturday. But Golspie are a very good team for him to go to. We have a good relationship with Golspie and it's more local for Neil. He knows a lot of their boys so we were quite happy to do that deal for him."
MacDonald made 11 appearances for the club last season and began this campaign in fine form as a first-choice at right back. However, with his changing work circumstances limiting his availability, appearances have been at a premium for the former Ross County man. The 21-year-old last played for Nairn in the 3-0 defeat at Wick Academy in November.
In another departure, full back Darren Jarvie has joined his former club Edinburgh University on loan until the end of the season. The 22-year-old has returned to the capital to continue his university degree after being based in the Highlands on a placement for the first half of the season. Fridge revealed: "Darren is in an important year of his studies so he will be struggling to get back up to play for us. When he first joined us, he was up nearly every weekend. I don't think that is going to be the case now so we have loaned him out to Edinburgh University and it will mean he can get some games.
"Darren still has another year left on his contract after this one so hopefully he will be playing every week down there. But if he does get posted back up here, we will take him back and he will still be match fit."
Jarvie joined the club in the summer of 2007. Throughout last season, the left-sided player made 20 appearances in all competitions. This season though, his chances have been limited by competition from Billy Horne and Andrea Coletto for the left-back slot and his own unavailability.
Fridge also reiterated his desire to new players into the club - but only if they improve the squad he has already assembled. "It's not something that we broadcast but I have been talking to a few players lately," he stated. "Some you get, some you don't and we were very fortunate to get Lewis MacKinnon. He was a big signing for us and we have now managed to get David Hind which is another big signing for us.
"I've always said, I won't just sign someone for the sake of it. But I will sign someone if they are better than what we've got or they can add something different to the squad."
Tomorrow County return to action when they host Lossiemouth at Station Park in the Highland League. Fridge is expecting The Coasters to give his side a tough game just like they did on their own patch in the 1-1 draw earlier this season. He said: "It's nice to be at home for two weeks in a row after being away for so long. My only criticism of the performance last week (against Fort William) was that we didn't take our chances because we created enough of them. I have been saying that for most of the season. We create a lot of chances in games and could make life a lot easier for ourselves. But we don't take these chances and we make games difficult.
"Hopefully we can build on last week's three points and clean sheet though and take it from there."