Kenny Brannigan has stated that there will be new faces before Friday's closure of the transfer window. The recently-appointed coach ran the rule over several trialists last week, including Mark McLean and Frankie Carroll, and is likely to do the same this week. Brannigan said that he was looking to bring in more experience to help along the younger players at the club, which would constitute the majority of the squad. It has also been reported that several goalkeepers will be tested out, in addition to Mark McLean, and clearly Brannigan feels that extra depth is needed in that department. You would feel that any keeper being brought in would not take long to win a first-team spot, but it is up to Tony Mitchell to prove he is worthy of holding onto the no. 1 jersey. I understand that any trialists may be taking the field against St. Mirren in a closed-doors match on either Tuesday or Wednesday, but I can't say where it will be played: possibly at Lesser. A friendly was played tonight there, with Queen's drawing 2-2 against Airdrie United. David Menelaws scored a penalty, and 18 year-old Kenneth McLean got the other. James White played the full 90 minutes, and his comeback is most timely as Queen's could do with some defensive cover.
The kick-off time for next Tuesday's Scottish Cup third round replay against Hamilton will be 7.45 pm. Queen's Park fans are likely to be directed to the North Stand, situated behind one of the goals at New Douglas Park. It would be fantastic to see a large support for what is a very
big game, but whatever the number of Spiders there the level of noise created by them is likely to be high.
26 Jan Queen's Park 2 Hamilton Academical 2 - all too close
It's been quite a long time since Queen's suffered the agony of conceding a key goal in the final minute of a game. That it should happen in such an important one made it even harder to take. Hamilton's Allan Russell was on hand to nod home Accies' equalising goal after a corner had been partially cleared by Mitchell's outstretched hand, and after the ball had been chipped back across goal. Queen's had been behind early on when Bonnar converted a superb Callaghan cross, but John Gemmell headed the equaliser and then showed great power and precision to volley past Potter to put Queen's ahead in the opening minutes of the second half. The display of the new midfield trio of Whelan, Clark, and Paddy Gallagher was especially noticeable as all three fought like tigers, and Gallagher showed that he can play some nice stuff too. There were still some defensive frailties on show though, particularly in dealing with crosses and set-pieces, and Tony Mitchell's handling of these again lacked all conviction - however his defence could have supported him better. The attendance of 1,362 was Queen's second largest of the season, behind the Morton fixture in November.
The tie will be replayed on Tuesday 4 February at New Douglas Park in Hamilton. The winners face a long but enticing trip to Inverness to meet Caley in the last sixteen. The First Division side beat Raith Rovers 2-0 on Saturday. Queen's last trip to Inverness on Scottish Cup business came in January 1999, when they beat Clachnacuddin 3-2 in a thrilling match at Grant Street Park.
24 Jan New signings possible
Today's Evening Times - another paper to add to that lengthy list of Queen's own 'local rags'- quoted Kenny Brannigan as saying that he is keen to sign a couple of players. Mark McLean, a former Celtic, Albion Rovers and Berwick keeper, and Frankie Carroll, a Queen's legend for his two goals that won us the championship at Central Park in 2000- both featured as trialists in a Lesser Hampden bounce game this week against Partick Thistle, and Carroll scored in a 2-1 defeat. Brannigan now says that he is 'hopeful of doing something there'. He also stated that fringe men Paddy Gallagher and Craig Taggart, as well as David Menelaws, had impressed him in this game, as well as presumably in normal training. Taggart however is out of tomorrow's game with a thigh injury, but his short-term future seems assured.
A real fillip for all at the club could come ahead of this massive Scottish Cup tie if Steven Canning passes a fitness test prior to kick-off. Canning was injured against Albion Rovers on 14 December and has not played since. If he makes it, then Gordon Lappin will probably be the man to drop out, with Danny Ferry switching back to the right-wing berth that he occupied during the second half of last week's match. To read a full preview of the Accies game, click here.
21 Jan Another selection blow and Strollers loss
Willie Martin has taken ill with appendicitis ( it was thought I might have that last year, I'm sure you're pleased to know ) and could well be out for some weeks. As his form recently has been mighty impressive, then he will be badly missed. And the Strollers - hopefully unlike their big brothers in the first XI - will not be enjoying any cup success this season, beaten 2-0 by Cowdenbeath at Lesser in the Reserve League Cup. Thanks go to qpfc.com for the news on Willie Martin.
John Gallagher, having been released by Queen's Park last week, today signed for Third Division rivals Elgin City.
21 Jan Martin exit
Disappointingly, it would appear that Paul Martin's departure from Hampden was less amicable than has been made out. It seems that Martin had, at least to a certain extent, changed his mind about not taking the coaching job, and was prepared to stay on until the end of the season, before obtaining his SFA coaching badge ( which, intriguingly, he still intends to do ).
However, as certain ( though remarkably only a minority ) members of the committee had their hearts set on Kenny Brannigan, no steps were taken to keep Martin on longer. Like most supporters, I am a little annoyed at the way Martin's departure, and the whole appointment of a new boss, has been handled, and particularly unhappy that Martin has seen it as time to go. Now, it could be said of the committee that, fair enough, Martin had not wished to apply for the coach's post, despite doing an excellent job in temporary charge, and therefore they had to go after someone else. However, any willingness from Martin to stay on - even though it would constitute a big change of mind - should have been seriously considered. It would seem that this was not the case, and due to an interesting ( ? ) ruling, a minority were able to outmanoeuvre a majority into giving the go-ahead for Kenny Brannigan to be put in place. Hardly a case of pure democracy at work! Incidentally, I have no knowledge of whether or not those not favouring Brannigan actually wished to keep Paul Martin on, but I suspect that that was not the case. Surely, if it had been, enough effort could have been made to that end ( Or were some not informed about Martin's new position on the matter ? ).
Not the most auspicious or promising of beginnings to Kenny Brannigan's managerial career, but I would now hope that all on the committee, and every supporter and member ( or both ), are fully behind him regardless of original preference.
More January 2003 news