Football Season Guide

Stirling Albion will be hoping to build upon an encouraging campaign and challenge for the League Two title this time around. Expectations remain high at the Forthbank Stadium and Dave Mackay looks to have got to grips with the job having been handed his first managerial role in November 2016. The Binos briefly threatened to challenge Montrose and Peterhead but had left themselves with too much to do and were comfortably beaten 4-0 on aggregate in the two-legged play-off semi-final by Peterhead. Mackay has made some brave decisions this summer with defender Ewan McNeil allowed to leave to join Pollock, despite having missed just one league match last time around. Midfielder Andrew Black has left for Edinburgh City whilst winger Ross Kavanagh has signed for Peterhead. He has been dealt a real blow in the loss of midfield playmaker Willie Robertson however, whose contract has been cancelled due to work commitments. Mackay will be pleased to have re-signed goalkeeper Cammy Binnie and striker Peter MacDonald on new deals whilst last season’s leading goalscorer Darren Smith is already under contract. They form the spine of the team alongside defenders Lee Hamilton and Ross McGeachie, with the latter an ever-present in the team last season. He will be delighted to have made midfielder Danny Jardine’s loan move from St Johnstone permanent whilst the capture of left-back Jordan Allan from Elgin City is something of a coup. Defender Jason Marr brings plenty of experience with him after signing from Albion Rovers whilst the strike-force has been strengthened with the arrivals of Kevin Fell and Mark Stewart from UB United and Dumbarton respectively. Mackay has put together another strong squad at the Forthbank Stadium and they can head into the new season with renewed optimism as they look to win promotion back to League One.