Football Season Guide

Stranraer endured a problematic campaign last time around but are hoping to once again push for the playoffs at the right end of the table after an encouraging summer. The Blues have impressed since Stevie Farrell took charge of them towards the end of last season and appear to have built on the momentum they gained at the end of last term. Most of the players they would have wished to keep on their books have remained, although Willie Gibson has made a somewhat surprising switch to League Two outfit Peterhead. Striker Craig Malcolm has also departed, but there was a feeling that he was going stale at Stair Park. Otherwise, Farrell has cut away some of the men who were not quite working out for him. Meanwhile, the manager appears to have signed well. Those players who have been captured from teams around them appear to be capable of adding to the side. Perhaps the most notable of these figures is striker Ryan Wallace, who has a strong record at this level. Danny Stoney is also back at the club, having had a successful loan spell a few years ago but he has not played league football since. The midfield, meanwhile, has been bolstered by the addition of Paul Woods, who was one of Queen’s Park's best players last term before being surprisingly released due to disciplinary issues. Grant Anderson joins from Peterhead while Stephen Okoh is a somewhat unknown quantity as he arrives from Lewes. Little has changed at the back, with Morgyn Neill having arrived on a permanent basis from Livingston and youngster Tom Lang joining up from Dumbarton, though probably in a supplementary role. Stranraer do not have a great budget and have opted for quality over quantity. There may be scope for one or two loan additions but injuries have the potential to hit this side hard. However, their players generally have a good injury record – with the exception of Steven Bell and Scott Robertson - something the coach will be leaning on heavily.