Thanks man, been away for a while myself, was very happy to come back and read your comment. Yeah contracts are killing us but to be expected as a Semi-Pro club. Worth a look but I'm trying hard to stick to my English players all be it with it getting ever more tempting to bring in some Scottish talent. I must resist! thanks again!
With the increased pulling power that our status as a Championship squad now provides us with, hopes were high for an exciting transfer window at Berwick, however first to be dealt with was those long lingering contract rebels, who had blighted an otherwise perfect season.
Of the nine who had refused to enter negotiations with us in January, were left with five who decided to pursue there careers elsewhere and its fair to say, all five have been crucial to the team.
Defensive duo,
Gregory and
Jones have been clinical at the heart of our back line and will leave a gaping hole in the defence as they look to pursue there careers on a full time basis, with midfielders Miller and Gray joining them on the road out of Berwick to take the creative edge out of our midfield.
The final departure of the window was by far the most disappointing however, as last seasons top scorer in the league and club legend Darren Lavery waved goodbye to Shielfield Park having almost single handedly guiding the club to there highest league position in history.
It was a devastating start to the window but alas there are still positives to be had. Veteran striker
Pat Walker and fellow English players,
George Leigh and
Jack Boyle all eventually resigned for the club alongside one of only three remaining Scots, striker Josh Morris.
With the window still firmly wide open we leapt into action to try and desperately strengthen the squad before the season began...
Cost: Free
From: Forfar
Joining us from Forfar,
Ricky Burke is primarily here to provide cover to our depleted midfield. With pretty much average ability for this level, he is not exactly going to be a shining light in our team but what he lacks in skill he'll hopefully make up for in willingness throughout the season, providing cover to both
Banjo and
Coultress.
...Yup thats it.
With the squad left with massive holes following the departures of five influential players, I hoped I could quickly strengthen in the window but it appears our hunting of English talent willing to join a Semi-Professional team in Scotland has reached an all new low.
With the squad worryingly weakened in the seasons opening transfer window, its fair to say the Borderers aren't looking too threatening ahead of there debut season in the Championship, however there were still two more positives we could take as the season rolled to its beginning, as two of our own youth products took centre stage.
Called up to the Under Nineteens squad for England,
Lowery is one of the brightest propsects to have ever emerged from Berwick. At just Seventeen hes already shown he has the ability to oust
Mitchell from the starting line up, with ability of a goalkeeper far beyond his young years
Another from the class of 2014,
Armstrong too has been flirting with life at international level and its fair to see why. The lanky Eighteen year old is developing into a formidable opponent and almost certainly has a future well beyond Berwick. With our defence severely thin on the ground,
Armstrong is going to be thrown into the deep end at the heart of our defence but with the ability to meet anything with his head, he should cope well in our back line.
With the squad potentially weaker then before, just one solitary arrival and two youngsters proving to be the only real highlight of a disastrous transfer window, our arrival to the Championship is looking ever more ominous.