Transfer News: Shally Moves Up to Division Three
Nairn County striker Darren Shallicker will be playing his football in Division Three of the Scottish Leagues next season after completing his transfer to Elgin City.
This is despite the club stating earlier this month that the player would stay at Station Park, although that was true at the time according to manager Les Fridge.
The popular forward joined the club last summer and found the net nine times in 23 appearances in a Nairn shirt, his final goal coming back in November when he netted a brace against Fort William
Manager Fridge was obviously disappointed to be losing his second top goalscorer from last season. He spoke to the site and said: "I have spoken to Shally within the last few days and he wants to have a go at playing in the Scottish League. He can only sign as an amateur because of his RAF commitments so he is free to speak to other clubs at the moment and he has agreed to take up Elgin's offer. He feels he is at an age where it might be his last chance to make it in the Third Division.
"As a club, we are very disappointed but he leaves with our best wishes."
The manager was keen to emphasise the club's appreciation of the contribution made by the big Englishman, who scored six goals in only his first nine games for Nairn.
Fridge was also keen to state that a deal had not been in place already and that the transfer is a fresh development. This is after rumours emerged at the tail end of last season that Shallicker would go to Borough Briggs for pre-season training, which was later denied by the club. Fridge explained: "I spoke to the player when the rumours first emerged and he said that he would be coming back to us in the summer. But he has had a change in circumstances and has decided he wants to give Division Three a go and that is understandable. As I say, we are very disappointed, but we wish him all the best."
The manager also confirmed that the club was very close to announcing it's full schedule of pre-season fixtures.