SEASON 2 PRESEASON - A CLUB IN ABSOLUTE DISARRAY LEADS TO CHAOS
This is possibly the hardest pre-season ive ever had. With no spare wage budget and no transfer budget to play with, building on a useful 4th place finish in season 1 would be nearly impossible. A series of off field issues mar the pre-season, and at this stage, a relegation battle looks more likely than a promotion battle.
EVERY MEMBER OF THE FIRST TEAM SQUAD IS PUT UP FOR SALE. MICHAEL PATON, DOMINIC McMAHON AND PETER MENDY ARE TOLD THEY WILL BE RELEASED. MAX ROSS' LOAN IS NOT MADE PERMANENT.
THE STRIKER FORMERLY KNOWN AS PRINCE
As if things were not bad enough, the big gamble did not pay off. We gambled on promotion last season whilst knowing Bright Prince would not sign a new contract. Prince was kept to the end of his contract and had a fine season, scoring 26 league goals for the Wee Rovers, 2nd top scorer in the Lowland League.
Despite this promotion was not secured and Prince, with no prospect of gaining a work permit for season 2 as he does not meet the international matches criteria, means we are left with no choice but to release one of the Lowland League's brightest (pardon the pun) talents, and he is released to join Nigerian side Taraba FC. The fans are gutted, and it leaves behind a huge hole: where are the goals going to come from?
CALLUM HASPELL DIGS HIS HEELS IN, BUT HIS LOYALTY IS A HINDERANCE
With no role left at the club, Callum Haspell needs to be shipped out. But due to his high wages, there are few takers, understandably so. It sparks a whole pre-season of effort to try and force him out of the door to free up more funds, but despite offers coming in, Callum still wants to fight for his place at Cliftonhill, which youd have to say is admirable.
A bid finally comes in from Buckie Thistle of the highland league to take him off our hands, and adds a precious 2.5k into the transfer kitty which can be converted to wages. It also saves a £275 per week wage, which was too high in the first place and we should not have offered.
BARRY DUNCAN MOVED ON - MUCH TO THE FANS DISPLEASURE
Homegrown talent Barry Duncan had broken into the Wee Rovers first team at the back end of last season, but despite that, we are in no position to turn down an offer for him from Fraserburgh to take him off us, again freeing up wage budget. We reluctantly have to part with one of our bright young talents as he leaves for £500.
FRASER DENNY TRUSTED TO LEAD THE WEE ROVERS INTO SEASON 2 AND TAKES A WAGE CUT
The one bright spot on a personal level is the faith showed in me by the board. I accept a wage cut to continue to manage this magnificent club and have no intention of leaving until this project is finished. The fans are delighted that I put pen to paper for another year.