New Annan Athletic boss wants to keep bulk of League One survivors together

New Annan boss Wullie Gibson aims to sign the bulk of the squad that kept the club in League One.

He was appointed as Galabankies manager to replace Peter Murphy who quit for rivals Queen of the South just days after the final day of the season. Murphy took the team to Stirling Albion and watched them earn a 1-1 draw to ensure safety in the division.

Now Gibson’s first task is to keep most of the Annan team together from last term.

Murphy replaces Marvin Bartley who had a stuttering season at Palmerston and failed to win over the support in a dismal campaign that saw Queens win just 11 out of 36 league games.

Ironically, he took over from Gibson who was handed a lifeline at Galabank as a player with Murphy last January and played a huge role this season in Annan’s survival.

He said: “I am delighted to get the job, over the moon.

“It’s straight to work in signing players now. I don’t know if that is one of the factors that swayed the board to appoint myself, but I did say that I knew the players better than anybody with working closely with them for the last 16 months.

“So I know their strengths and I know where we need to improve on. It’s now about tying down the good core of the team because, on the back of the success we have had, it has been down to these boys. They will be the priority.”

Gibson revealed he heard rumours of clubs being interested in several of his Annan squad and added: “That’s why it will be straight to work in getting boys signed. We achieved the goal of staying up which is what we said at the start of the season. It’s all about progression and over the last two or three years the club has slowly progressed and hopefully next year is no different.”

Gibson looked ahead to four more derby clashes with old club Queens and said: “Having the four derbies is great as it was last year.

“The fans come out for them, it is great revenue for the club and although some people think I would revel in Queens’ mis-fortune last season, well, not at all.

“I still have fond memories with the club.

“They have taken our old gaffer and I am sure he will improve them and the derbies will be even tastier next season.”