Sad Whitey watches a fine team disintegrate

Jul 17 2008 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

CARLUKE Rovers boss Whitey Moffat has this summer been forced to look on in anguish as a promising side disintegrated in front of his eyes.

Moffat hoped that the side he moulded last season would finish at least one step above, and gain promotion.

But several key players have sought to improve themselves and seize new challenges.

“It’s so disappointing to see the decimation of a team just pipped for promotion – we’re virtually starting from scratch again.

“But the club goes on, I’ll go on, and I’m looking forward to another season.”

Gary Fleming, a classy right-wing midfielder with an eye for goal, has signed for Super Premier League side Bellshill Athletic.

Defender Mark Haddow and wing-back Barry McGowan are bound for the Super First Division with promoted Lanark United, and Willie Souter has also left the club.

Central-defender Colin Slater, who spent most of last season on the sidelines with a troublesome knee injury, has quit to join ace amateurs Symington Tinto as assistant manager.

And the former Lanark player has persuaded Rovers’ experienced midfielder Andy Barr and veteran left-back Greg McFarlane to join him at Symington as player-coaches.

Whitey added: “It will be a big wrench losing a very talented midfielder in Andy, but he would like to get into management and this is a good chance to help him achieve that ambition.

“Greg has been a good servant to the club – he was in the first-team here when I arrived eight years ago, and has won a few points over the years with his long-range shots.”

Rovers could be set to lose another goal-scorer in Stephen Ferguson, who has been the subject of a bid by Forth Wanderers.

Moffat made the first steps in rebuilding his side with the capture of Chris Mackie and Sean McCrorie, as revealed in Advertiser Sports last week.

And he followed that up this week by snapping up midfielder Chris Rocks from Stonehouse Violet and Adrian Burns, a right-winger from Albion Rovers.

Teenage goalkeeper Russell Shaw has been told by specialists that his knee ligament injury – his second inside a year – isn’t as serious as first feared.

However, he is expected to be out of action for up to three months.