Tomorrow's match at Peterhead has been called off this evening. The team coach was already on its way north when the message was received to turn back because of a heavy fall of snow. The match referee felt there was little chance of it being cleared, and temperatures overnight will also be very low. The game will now go ahead either in midweek sometime in March, or on Saturday 29th March, when Scotland take on Iceland at Hampden.
31 Jan Three in, six out
Queen's did indeed today confirm the signings of goalkeeper Mark Cairns from Brechin City and left-sided midfielder / defender David McCallum from Partick Thistle. Also arriving at the club is former St. Mirren goalkeeper, 24 year-old Derek Scrimgour from Dumbarton. Scrimgour has the early advantage over Cairns in that he is eligible for the cup-tie at Hamilton, unlike Cairns who has already played in the tournament this season for Brechin. These signings seem to suggest that Tony Mitchell's career at the club is more or less over. He would have been unfit for tomorrow's Peterhead game, which has now been called off due to a further heavy fall of snow.
One goalkeeper is among the 6 players released by the club, as this site's story earlier today proved accurate. Stewart Thomson made no competitive appearances after signing from Hamilton in the summer. Gordon Lappin and Stewart Jack, both signed from Gourock YAC in the close season by John McCormack, have both left: the two showed only fleeting glimpses of what they could do while at the club, and neither featured regularly, though Lappin had become more involved recently. Karl Lejman, with just two sub appearances to his name, has gone, as has Alistair MacNiven, who was promoted to the first-team squad in the summer but failed to make an impact. Finally, Brendan Crozier has departed, having been signed from St. Johnstone in August. Each player's records at the club are as follows:
Brendan Crozier: 4 starts, 3 sub; Stewart Jack: 5 starts, 6 sub, 1 goal;
Gordon Lappin: 6 starts, 1 sub; Karl Lejman: 2 sub;
Alistair MacNiven and Stewart Thomson: no appearances.
These departures tell you that Kenny Brannigan was keen to offload players he didn't take much of a liking to and had made little impression since joining the club. Since the start of the season, Queen's have probably had more players than was really necessary, but Cowboy always seem to like having plenty of players at his disposal. I personally would have liked to have seen Crozier and Jack given more opportunities, but there is a fair amount of competition and both probably feel they have a decent chance of a game elsewhere. On the signing front, McCallum is a player Partick Thistle rated highly enough to keep even when they were promoted and he was injured, but clearly now he was never going to break back into their team. He will provide useful cover on the left, where defensively at least, we could do with it. And the signings of two goalkeepers means that one, as well as Tony Mitchell, will have to be left unhappy, but with Cairns out for the Cup, but a more likely first-choice, and Mitchell injured and off-form, Scrimgour is needed for the Hamilton game - and hopefully at least one more game beyond that.
31 Jan Released players rumour
A report from an unconfirmed source has suggested that Stewart Thomson, Gordon Lappin and Alistair MacNiven have all left Queen's Park, as well as three others. The story quite possibly has no truth in it, but later today the club will confirm any moves that have taken place, both in and out, as the transfer deadline draws closer. Kenny Brannigan has been quoted as saying that he felt there were too many players on the books at Queen's so it would be no surprise if a few were let go to find new teams. Already since he joined, John Gallagher has departed to sign for Elgin City.
Meanwhile, the pitch at Peterhead's Balmoor Stadium seems ok at present - snow was this morning cleared from the surface, and the pitch was not frozen over. As I type, it is snowing in Glasgow, but unless there is overnight frost, tomorrow's game is likely to proceed as planned.
Tammies and ear-muffs at the ready.
30 Jan McCallum on way?
It seems that Partick Thistle midfielder David McCallum will sign for Queen's prior to Saturday's match at Peterhead. The player signed a deal to stay at Firhill during the close season, but injury has hampered his hopes of SPL football, and he has not been played by John Lambie at all this season. 25 year-old McCallum plays in midfield and was formerly at Motherwell and Stirling Albion. Any moves for McCallum and goalkeeper Mark Cairns are likely to be confirmed tomorrow.
Speaking of the trip to Peterhead, there may now be doubts over the game actually going ahead. There have been severe blizzards in the north-east of the country, and although the worst of these have been in inland Aberdeenshire, the pitch at Balmoor may well have frozen over. In any case, many roads up north have been deemed unsuitable for drivers unless in emergencies. Of course, every Queen's game must surely count as an emergency. An early decision on the state of the pitch at Balmoor will have be taken pretty early i.e. tomorrow
( Friday ), so as to avoid the scenario of Queen's Park players, staff and fans setting out only to find out that the game is off. When I have any news on the likelihood of the game taking place, it will be posted.
29 Jan Cairns may fill goalkeeping position
According to a Brechin City website, goalkeeper Mark Cairns is set to sign for Queen's Park before Friday's transfer deadline. Cairns has been told he can leave Glebe Park, though he played in their match with Berwick at the weekend. However, Brechin have now signed Scott Thomson from Dunfermline and feel that they can't afford to keep three goalkeepers. 33 year-old Cairns has Premier League experience from his days with Partick Thistle, and joined Brechin from Alloa in 2001. It has been known from the off that Kenny Brannigan was keen to bring in another goalkeeper, preferrably with experience, and if Cairns is signed he will almost certainly replace Tony Mitchell in goal. However, Mitchell will play against Hamilton in next week's Scottish Cup replay, as Cairns is cup-tied, having played in Brechin's 4-1 loss at Stenhousemuir in the second round of the competition.
Apologies for the inaccurate story that St. Mirren would play Queen's in a closed-doors game: this turned out not to be the case. The Strollers were in action last night, losing a home game with Falkirk 3-1. Stuart Kettlewell scored Queen's goal, while Craig Taggart's hopes of a return to the first-team were dampened by his ongoing injury problems which again flared up in the first-half.