Transfer activity moves into extra time as sides prepare for the kick-off

Jul 31 2008 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

TRANSFER market activity has been stepped up during the last week as clubs move towards the Sectional League Cup openers next Wednesday.

Super Premier League Bellshill Athletic paraded five new signings in their squad at the Blantyre Vics charity tournament at the weekend.

Manager Tam McDonald is a long-term admirer of Gary Fleming, and finally signed the talented young forward from Carluke Rovers as soon as pre-season got underway.

And he added former Motherwell youth starlet Davie Clark from Larkhall, Paul McBride from East Stirling, John Boyle from Auchinleck Talbot, and Mark McVittie from Petershill.

Tam is also running the rule over five trialists saying: “I have signed 15 players, so there are three more jerseys to fill.. As a club we cannot afford to go out and buy everybody we want, so I’ll be shopping around in the basement.”

However, McDonald also lost one of his players for the opening weeksn.

He said: “Stewart Boyd and John Boyle worked quite well together up front, and on Sunday’s performance John was worth every bit of the transfer fee we paid for him.

“But the news about Stewart is not so good as he was carried off with knee ligament damage and could be out for six weeks.”

Shotts Bon Accord’s new boss Duncan Sinclair has secured three players.

Ian Wallace returns to the club after the clever attacking left-back quit Carluke Rovers, and celebrated that recall by scoring in Saturday’s 5-1 win at Maybole.

‘Sinky’ has also signed former Bellshill and Lanark goalkeeper Alan Smith from Hurlford and midfielder Gary McStay from Kilsyth Rangers.

Royal Albert have brought in six new players, including their former full-back Barry Murdoch, a free-scoring midfielder.

Craig Cooper – whose father is a former Albert player – and Graham Anderson, both from Larkhall Vics; midfielders Jonathan McKay (Blantyre Vics’ under-18s), Kenny Burns (Balmore), Brian Bradshaw (Netherburn), and forward Mark Young, who joined from East Kilbride Amateurs, are the other new faces while Forth have added former Carluke striker Steve Ferguson.