Football Season Guide

The Binos head into the new campaign with a mixture of optimism and trepidation following a season of change in 2016/17. Former St Johnstone defender Dave Mackay was handed his first role in management last November and guided the side to a 6th place finish in the League Two table. Their ambitions are a little higher than that and one of Mackay's first decisions this summer was to allow goalkeeper and player of the season Chris Smith to leave the club in order to give promising young keeper Cammy Binnie his chance between the sticks. It is certainly a brave choice and illustrates the strength of the club's youth system. They have a number of promising youngsters coming through with defender Scott Davidson, midfielder Connor McMullan and striker Ross Cameron having signed their first professional contracts this summer. Cameron scored 14 goals for the under-20 side last season and will be looking to follow in the footsteps of striker Ross Kavanagh, who enjoyed a breakthrough season. They will both have to be patient however as striker Blair Henderson has a point to prove after a disappointing first year at the club. He is likely to partner Peter MacDonald in attack, with the experienced striker having joined from Clyde this summer. Versatile defender Ewan McNeil has followed in MacDonald's footsteps having also signed from Clyde for an undisclosed fee and both are excellent additions to the squad. He will be hoping to rely on less loan players this time around will be pleased to have signed defenders Ross McGeachie and Ross Smith up for another season. Midfielder Willie Robertson has been appointed as Captain after signing a new deal whilst plenty will be expected of creative midfielders Darren Smith and Sean Dickson this season. If Mackay can find the right balance between youth and experience, then the Forthbank side should be challenging for a play-off place next May.