´óÏó´«Ã½

My prediction was bang on the money: that we would see another Third Division side joining Livingston in the Second Division next season, so .

It means that there are now two new teams joining us next season and it's always refreshing to face new sides.

I'm sure everyone at the club will be looking forward to visiting the grounds of Arbroath and Clyde.

Clyde were our very first opponents as a Third Division side when we visited Broadwood in the Challenge Cup, and it'll be very interesting facing them again in the same division.

I'm sure our manager, Harry Cairney, will be particularly looking forward to coming up against Arbroath after his spell there as manager in-between his two spells at Galabank.

It's a difficult time for a lot of footballers right now and it's well-documented that the number of released players is on the increase.

There are a lot of people out there helping players in that situation right now and you just need to keep your fingers crossed and make sure you're looking after yourself and are ready to go at any time if the phone call comes.

Because there are so many players in the same position nowadays it is obviously beneficial to the clubs.

Players realise there are hundreds more in similar circumstances and they may be more tempted to accept the first offer that is put in front of them.

Clubs can perhaps offer less money on contracts knowing there is a fair chance they'll be accepted.

They might also find that they can attract a type of player they might not have a year or so ago; this has already happened down at Annan during the early part of the close season.

The club has kept the majority of the players who finished last season's campaign and have already added Andy Aitken from Ayr and Pat Walker from Albion Rovers.

In all my time at the club we always seem to have left our business until late on in pre-season, but it's great to hear that the deals are getting done right away.

The signing of Andy will be seen as a real coup by the club and there will be a lot of people in the town delighted that he is back after all those years away.

It has always been a matter of when the big man would return and now we've finally got him back.

We have an inexperienced back line at the club and Andy's experience will be vital in our attempts to progress in this division.

I've obviously faced Pat a few times this season and last and I'm sure if you ask our defenders they would say he is a difficult striker to play against.

We now have fantastic competition up-front and everyone will need to start pre-season on the front foot to impress the manager.

I see that Pat mentioned the "wonder goal" he scored against us last season after signing with the club, although I remember it as a fluke.

Either way I don't care as long as he does the same for us next season.

Where there is good news regarding new players coming in to the club I was disappointed to hear that Derek Townsley has decided to hang up his boots or more so that he has left his assistant manager post.

In my opinion Degsy has been brilliant for the club and it's a blow to us that he has left as I actually thought he would have stayed and went on to manage the club. Who knows, maybe he still will?

I get the impression that he wants to have a break after finishing his playing career and spend some time with his family.

Whatever the reasons, it was a pleasure big man and you will be missed around the club.