Shotts boss adds trio to 'last season's squad' as he prepares for next season

Shotts boss John McKeown has signed former Kirkintilloch Rob Roy striker Fraser Anderson as he bids to bolster his attacking options for next season.

And McKeown is tying up East Kilbride loan duo Rico di Marco and Joe Sexton.

The Bonny gaffer is still looking for three or four other options, but is happy to have signed up most of his squad on extended deals for next season.

McKeown said: “We’ve signed Fraser Anderson, he was at Rob Roy last season, had a short spell on loan at Rutherglen and came through the ranks at East Kilbride as well.

“He’s a good, strong, back-to-goal striker as well, a physical lad, so he’s got a wee bit of hunger and wants to prove he can cut it at the top level, so he will be a big addition to us.

“We’re also securing the services of the two boys who were on loan from East Kilbride, Joe Sexton and Rico di Marco, so that will be good to get them in permanently as well.

“We need some attacking options.

“I feel I need a couple more attacking options, because we were pretty sound, defensively.”

Shotts legend Johnny Murdoch, Martin Shiels and David Gallagher are departing this summer, but everybody else is on board for a crack at the West of Scotland Premier Division.

Goalkeeper Sandy Thomson, Ben Richford, Harry Kent, Robbie Torrance, Josh Gracie, Martin Cassells, Keiran Campbell, Andy Duffy, Chris Meikle and Taylor Evans were announced last week.

McKeown said: “The whole squad is re-signing apart from Johnny Murdoch, who has moved on after some great years’ service at the club as goalkeeper.

“Johnny had an injury last year, needed an operation and missed a large chunk of the season, and Sandy Thomson has firmly established himself as the number one.

“He’s at the stage of his career where he had to go and play, which is perfectly understandable.

“Johnny’s a bit of a Shotts legend, so we couldn’t stand in his way.

“Martin Shiels is moving on, he needs regular game-time, and David Gallagher, who joined us towards the end of the season, is going in search of regular football.

“The rest of the guys are signing on for next season, so that’s a positive and it’s massive for us.

“It means I’m working with the same group. There’s a wee bit of hunger there.

“Once again we’ll be well written off, and everybody will be expecting us to come right back down, but I know these boys have the bit between their teeth.

“Last season we were tipped for relegation and look what they did, so they’re determined to prove they can handle it in the top league – and only time will tell.

“I have faith in them, so I’ve re-signed them, and I’ll look at add three or four, just to freshen things up.

“But we have long-term injuries as well, Martin Cassells is coming back after an operation, and Taylor Evans missed the last four or five months of the season through injury as well, so these guys will be like new signings.”

Shotts are back in pre-season on June 20, with friendlies lined up at Third Division newcomers Wishaw and Stoneyburn, and at home to Third Division champions Lanark United, and Lowland League side Cowdenbeath, one of McKeown’s former clubs.

He said: “We’re starting back on June 20, so the boys already have their schedule and stuff in place, so they’re away enjoying their break just now, their well-earned rest, but a lot of them are chomping at the big, raring to go already, so that’s good.

“We’ve got a similar schedule to last season and we have four concrete just now.”

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