Football Season Guide

Peterhead’s summer has been a complicated one, not only because of the coronavirus pandemic but because they are increasingly finding Cove Rangers competing and beating them to players at a level of the north-east market that they previously had cornered. A total of 10 members of Peterhead’s first-team squad left in the summer and, with just seven players coming in, including three at short notice 10 days before the campaign started, they suddenly look short on bodies as the start of the season looms. Indeed, they will do well to fill their bench in the opening weeks of the season judging by the current state of their panel. They look short in many areas of the pitch, including in attack. Isaac Layne has been added from Dumbarton but, though he was the Sons’ top scorer last season, he was not consistent and had long streaks of games in which he was ineffective. An undue amount is set to weigh on 39-year-old forward Derek Lyle, who as well as Steven Boyd, will carry the scoring burden. In the midfield, there is a also a lack of consistency. Alan Cook is a fine player on his day and in the right system, but that is all too rare, while Ryan Conroy suffers similarly. While Peterhead should be strong in the centre with Simon Ferry, Gary Fraser and Scott Brown, who play well play wide on the right, there is little depth beyond this trio. The defence suffers similarly. Gary McKenzie has arrived from St Mirren but at 34 his best days are behind him, while Kyle Bailey, arrived from Nybergsund in Norway, is as much a wildcard signing as on-loan Dundee United right-back Kieran Freeman.