Transfer News: Stewart In As Two Are Transfer Listed
Nairn County have completed the signing of midfielder Graeme Stewart from junior outfit Inverness City. But two members of the squad are set to depart after being placed on the transfer list by manager Les Fridge.
Stewart arrives from Inverness City after the two clubs agreed a nominal fee for the 22-year-old's services. He can play either in the middle of the park or wide on the right and comes straight into contention for Saturday's trip to Clachnacuddin in the Highland League.
"I got a whisper last week that he was looking to leave and I believe that Rothes and Clach were showing an interest in him as well."
The central midfield position was an area Fridge felt he needed to add to after losing Johnathan Holland in October while Duncan Jones is set to join the police force. And the manager feels Stewart fits the bill to bolster the County engine room. He added: "He's a very good, all-round midfield player and that is an area I felt we needed to strengthen. After losing Johnathan Holland and with Duncan Jones joining the police I felt it was an area we needed to strengthen again.
"Steven Edwards has been playing at full back recently so in terms of central midfielders, we've only really got Toshy (Wayne Mackintosh) and Easter (Gregg Main) available at the moment so it is an area we have been short in. We've got other boys like Glenn Main and Andrea Coletto who can play in the wider areas but I just felt we needed to
And Fridge is hopeful that his latest capture is available for a baptism of fire at Grant Street Park on Saturday. "We're hoping everything will be done and dusted before Saturday," he said. "I'd like to involve him with the squad on Saturday if possible."
Stewart may be followed through the Station Park entrance by more new faces over the coming week as Fridge revealed he was looking to close in on further signings. He added: "I've got my eye on a couple of other players. I've got a few irons in the fire but I'll have to wait and see. I don't want to say anything though in case they don't come off."
Meanwhile, Fridge exclusively revealed to Nairn County FC Online that he has made Neil MacDonald and Harry Rae available for transfer. Both players have not been involved with the squad in recent weeks and look set to move on to pastures new. Fridge said: "I've put Neil MacDonald and Harry Rae on the transfer list for a couple of reasons. Both of them have featured during the season but recently they have both changed jobs so they have been finding it difficult to train at the moment. They have not been in the squad of late and both of their contracts are up at the end of the season so I've put on them on the list. We'll see if we get any interest and we'll take it from there."
MacDonald joined Nairn from Ross County in the summer of 2006 but has seen his career at Station Park blighted by suspension and injury. Last season, the 21-year-old managed eight starts and three sub appearances in all competitions and had started the current season in a positive vein of form. The defender has managed eight starts and one appearance as a substitute this season but was sent off in the Scottish Cup defeat at Edinburgh City in September.
Harry Rae only signed for County two months ago and has managed a total of just five minutes of playing time. But the midfielder has been unable to attend training in recent weeks and hasn't been considered for selection.
Fridge feels there could be a way back for the duo though and pointed to the example of Scott Nicholl, who was transfer listed in the summer of 2006 but knuckled down and came back into the squad before earning a new contract. The boss added: "I've put players on the transfer list and taken them back off before because circumstances changed. If I have to use these players again then I will, I have no problem with that.
"I just feel that over the past couple of months they haven't been pulling their weight as it were and they've been missing a bit of training. It's just a case of putting them on the transfer list and waiting to see if anything develops."
Any club interested in making an enquiry about either player is invited to contact the manager directly or email [email protected].
This Saturday, County make the short trip to Inverness to take on Clachnacuddin. It is the first match at the Merkinch ground since Clach were reported to the SFA for failing to control their fans and arrests were made following their Scottish Cup match against Stenhousemuir.
When the two sides last met at Grant Street Park, the home side recorded a substantial 5-0 victory. But Fridge doesn't believe that will have any effect on the outcome on Saturday. He said: "It's a year down the line since that result. We've brought in players and we have a slightly changed squad now as well. We've gone down a different road since then with a slightly inexperienced side. But the more they play, the more they will get that experience."
He added: "It's a difficult place to go. Ian Polwarth has brought in a couple of experienced players but it's just going to be a case of taking care of ourselves. We haven't been playing that badly in recent games but we've been getting punished for mistakes and we're not taking our chances. It's just something that we are going to have to keep working on."
Fridge is likely to be without several players including goalkeeper John Campbell, meaning Callum Donaldson will continue between the posts. The manager declared: "Neil MacDonald, Chris Finnigan, Harry Rae and Darren Jarvie are all out. John Campbell hurt himself at work but we're hoping he'll be back in training next week. Brian Macleod's wife has just had a baby so he's doubtful as well."