Football Season Guide

The Blue Toon endured a miserable season which ended in relegation to League Two after losing to Forfar Athletic in a two-legged play-off final. The club have decided to keep faith with experienced manager Jim McInally in the hope they can bounce straight back to League One at the first attempt. The manager will be delighted to have held on to striker and leading goalscorer Rory McAllister for the new season. He had an outstanding year, finishing as leading goalscorer with 26 goals, and will be absolutely integral to their hopes of promotion. The other player McInally will be pleased to have kept is midfielder Simon Ferry, who brings plenty of experience from his time playing in English football. Their biggest problem was at the other end with some terrible defending exacerbated by poor goalkeeping and McInally has acted by releasing goalkeeper Graeme Smith and defenders Craig Reid and Steve Noble. Liam Gordon and Michael McMullin's loans have come to an end and McInally will remodel his defence on David McCracken and Jason Brown, who have signed from Falkirk and Inverness Caledonian Thistle respectively. Goalkeeper Fraser Hobday's loan from Huntly has been made permanent and he will provide competition for goalkeeper Greg Fleming, who is rather an impressive capture from Ayr United. McInally has further strengthened his squad with the arrivals of midfielders Paul Cairney and Willie Gibson from Ayr United and Stranraer and they will replace the likes of Jamie Redman and Nathan Blockley, who have moved on to pastures new this summer. McAllister is likely to be supported in attack striker Russell McLean, with the Blue Toon having beaten off the interest of higher league clubs to capture his signature from Lowland League Champions East Kilbride. Despite having suffered such a disappointing campaign last time around, Peterhead look well-placed to challenge for the League Two title and make an immediate return to League One.