Albion Rovers 'ready to announce signings' as boss prepares for Airdrie friendly

Albion Rovers boss Sandy Clark is talking to “around” 14 players for next season’s Lowland League challenge, but says there is a lot of work still to be done as they prepare to announce their first new signings in the coming days.

Clark expects to more or less rebuild at the Cliftonhill club as they make moves towards trying to re-establish a place in the SPFL, but understands their place in the ‘food chain’.

Players they could have attracted in League Two two seasons ago might be reluctant to play in the Lowland League – but it might also be better than East or West of Scotland League football.

Clark says he and supporters will need to be patient, and those he has agreed deals with won’t be identified until their contracts are up at previous clubs at the end of this month.

The Rovers gaffer said: “I’ve spoken to an amount of players, round about the number of 14, and a few of them are definitely completed, some others we still have to dot the ‘is’ and cross the ‘ts’ to get it across the line.

“Some of them have been with other clubs, their contracts go until the end of June, so I can’t divulge anything.

“I’m happy enough where we are. There are a couple of positions, one in defence and one in attack, where I want to sign a couple of strong players, and there’s nothing close with that, at the moment.

“That happens at this time of the year. It’s the ‘food chain effect’, where players want to try and play in the leagues above, first and foremost, and it’s only really when that opportunity runs out that they’d maybe consider playing Lowland League football.

“It’s the same with the leagues below us – they would rather play Lowland League than East of Scotland or West of Scotland, and that’s just the way football works.

“It will probably be into July before things will fall into place properly, when people who have been unsuccessful in getting contracts in the leagues will look more towards this league.

“I’m aware of that, and I want to get people who are going to be big players for us, mainly a defender and a striker, and that’s the bit that I’m still having to put a lot of work into.

“The rest of the squad round about I’m happy with where we are with it and I’m confident that with the players I have lined up – plus loans, further down the line – that it will complete our squad. I’m happy with it, but I know I’ve still got a bit of work to do.”

Two of Rovers’ players from last season have secured new clubs for the forthcoming season. Defenders Devan McColl and Conor Duffy, who made 17 appearances in the Lowland League for Rovers last season, have both made the switch to a league rival. The pair have joined Broomhill and will face their former side later this year.

Meanwhile, the club are gearing up for a host of friendlies in the next month to prepare them for another shot at glory in the fifth tier. Up first this coming Saturday is a Monklands derby away to Championship side Airdrie and that will be followed by a clash against another near neighbour.

West of Scotland League outfit Cumbernauld United will come to Cliftonhill on Saturday, July 6 and League Two side Stirling Albion will also come calling on Tuesday, July 9.

Following that, Rovers will make the short journey to Airdrie to face West of Scotland League Premier side Gartcairn on Saturday, July 13. Clark’s men will then host Dalbeattie Star, who were relegated from the Lowland League to the South of Scotland League last season, on Tuesday, July 16.

Rovers then close out their pre-season schedule on Saturday, July 20 when they are due to face Championship outfit Queen’s Park. The venue for that is still to be confirmed and more information will be communicated by the clubs in due course.

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