Queen of the South

The Doonhamers breathed a sigh of relief when the season was called early as their poor form suggested they were ripe for the drop. It was a tough season for the Queen of the South and one they want to quickly forget. The majority of Queens’ squad were released (17 in total) with only veteran striker Stephen Dobbie and a couple of others retained. Only Michael Ledger and Gary Oliver have remained in the Championship with Morton. Recruitment ahead of the new season was initially slow, but experienced defender Gregor Buchanan has joined from Falkirk. He will be tasked with trying to bring a set of strangers together into a tight unit. Signings picked up towards the end of the transfer window, but they came for lower divisions, reserve teams or complete unknowns from England. The best known are journeymen midfielders Rhys McCabe from Brechin and Joe McKee from Dumbarton. Enthusiasm and proving the doubters wrong looks like being their main weapons this season. With a completely recast squad, it looks like being another tough season for the Doonhamers. It will be no surprise if they have a poor start as manager Allan Johnston struggles to find his best starting XI. Queens are another team that operate on the limits of full-time football and the lack of gate money because of the COVID-19 pandemic is a huge headache for them. Reaming afloat could be seen as a triumph over the course of the coming season.