Transfer News: Maltese Falcon Lands At Station Park
Nairn County have beefed up their squad with the addition of a player who can boast full international caps for his home country. Jonathan Holland has arrived at Station Park on an 18-month contract after a successful playing career in Mediterranean country of Malta. The 29-year-old brings with him bags of experience which includes 19 full caps for the Maltese national team and a taste of European football at club level in the form of the Inter-Toto Cup.
Holland can play either in midfield or defence and starred for Premier League side Birkirkara in his homeland before his move to Scotland in the summer. After his arrival, he spent a month on trial with Division Two side Ross County but failed to win a full time contract from then manager Dick Campbell. This led to a spell with Elgin City though, but an injury during pre-season training ended his chances of earning a deal with the Third Division outfit. The player was then afforded training facilities by Nairn and has done enough during the few weeks he has been involved with the squad to earn himself a deal.
The new arrival took the number of fresh faces brought into Station Park by Les Fridge since the end of last season up to 10.
The manager said: "Jonathan can play in midfield or at the back so he's a versatile player. We are delighted to have brought him in but he needs to get himself fully fits and foremost. I don't think he realises the pace of the Highland League quite yet but he certainly brings experience to the squad having played against the likes of Sweden and France at full international level. He has been working really hard in training with us over the past couple of weeks but he will have to be patient and wait for his chance in the team."
Over the past couple of weeks, Fridge has mentioned the lack of experience in his squad and stating that it may have been a key reason behind losing the last winner against Cove Rangers and letting Fraserburgh back into the match last week. But the capture of a player of Holland's capture seems to go a long way to fill such a void in the pool of players. Fridge was maintaining that he would continue to give the club's home grown crop a fair crack of the whip in the team though.
He said: "It's a bit of a catch 22 situation. We have a very young squad who are quite inexperienced. But the only way they can gain experience is by playing in the team on a Saturday."
Holland has gained international clearance in time to make him available for this week's trip to face Buckie Thistle.