Contract Renewals: Five Extend Their Stay
Five Nairn County players have handed the club a major boost ahead of tomorrow's crunch derby showdown with Forres Mechanics at Mosset Park by agreeing to commit their immediate futures to the Station Park side.
Captain WIllie Barron, ever-present midfielder Wayne Mackintosh, utility man Steven Edwards, goalkeeper Willie Ridgers and the injury-plagued Scott Nicholl have all agreed to extend their current contracts.
County manager Les Fridge said: "Willie is a local boy that we're proud of. He can play in various positions along the forward line and has phenomenal pace. His contract was going to be up at the end of the season so I am delighted that he was delighted to sign again."
Wayne Mackintosh is another who has come through the youth ranks at Station Park and is now maturing into an integral part of the team. The box-to-box player covers every blade of grass on a Saturday afternoon with his energetic runs and has now concluded negotiations on a new deal at Station Park.
Fridge said: "Wayne has signed a two-year extension. He is coming more and more to the fore as a key player in our set up. He was a young lad last year who was learning all the time but this term he has really matured. His workrate is phenomenal and he can fit in with
Another midfielder who has agreed to an extension is Steven Edwards. After being dogged by disciplinary problems throughout the first few years of his time with the club, he has developed into a mainstay of the team and has not been sent off for almost a year.
The manager said: "Steven has gone into the midfield pack this season because he is big and strong and can use his physical strength in there. It is great he has shown versatility too and he has been given a one-year extension."
Scott Nicholl is a player who has been in the injury wilderness for the past few seasons but Fridge has revealed that the former Ross County full back is close to making a top team return. After signing from Clachnacuddin, Nicholl quickly established himself as a first pick in the starting eleven. But he only managed to make eight appearances last season because of injury while he has not kicked a competitive ball for the club this campaign despite appearing in the pre-season friendlies against Livingston and Peterhead. That is because he underwent surgery on a persistent ankle injury at the end of July.
Fridge said: "Scott has featured in our team news as an absent player every single week this season but his troubles are nearing an end. We are looking to get him fit towards the end of the season and for him to get a good pre-season behind him."
Goalkeeper Willie Ridgers was snapped up by the club before the Scottish Cup tie at Rothes in September. He was drafted in on a deal until the end of the season after back up shotstopper John Calder was ruled out with illness. He made his debut as a substitute during the away match at Wick Academy last month.
Fridge said: "We are delighted to keep Willie on. He has fitted in really well at the club and has worked very hard. He is competing well with JC (John Campbell), works hard and we need two goalkeepers fully on their toes. He came on for John who was injured at Wick and was excellent. John is a great role model for him. On Saturday against Huntly, he made three saves that some people would consider as top drawer saves but for John they are regarded as very good because we've become accustomed to him producing the goods on a regular basis."
Meanwhile, it is not expected that the club will have any new faces in the squad for tomorrow's derby clash. Last week, Fridge confirmed that he had enquired about transfer-listed Forres defender Gary Black. But the Mosset Park outfit will have to reportedly half their asking price before the move can advance any further.