Reds get into shape

Jun 26 2009

STIRLING Albion’s squad are continuing their preparations for the new campaign with a four-day a week pre-season training schedule, writes David Ogilvie.

The players will be put through their paces on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday before the friendlies kick in with a home match against Jim McIntyre’s Dunfermline on Wednesday, July 8.

Boss Allan Moore said: “We are planning for four sessions each week but I won’t be too hard on the players. It is a big commitment when you are part-time and if they can make three out of four then I won’t be too unhappy about that. It is all about their fitness and players are pretty good at keeping in shape these days.”

Striker Martin Grehan missed the first night back due to a possible stomach muscle injury and his progress will be monitored but Moore is hopeful the ex-Motherwell man won’t slip too far behind the others.

He added: “He has seen the doctor and I think he might need to take it easy for a bit but hopefully it’s not a big problem as he formed a great partnership with David McKenna last season. We have another good striker in Michael Mullen but obviously you want to have everyone available.

“Andy Graham missed Tuesday’s session because of an ankle knock but that is nothing serious while Nathan Taggart is just back from his holidays. He has been out for a long time but should be fit enough to push on now.

“We have brought in Greig McDonald from East Fife and agreed a deal with Scott Robertson at Queen of the South so I think we are looking in pretty good shape. Midfield is an area we are still looking at and a loan deal might be a possibility.”

Stirling lost out to Ayr in a bid to sign David O’Brien from Dundee but Moore said: “Good luck to him because he has managed to stay full-time. David is a good lad and he said that if he had to go part-time again then he would come to us, but it was not to be.

“Hopefully we should get the Scott Robertson paperwork completed when the club secretary returns from holiday and I’m pleased we have got Greig McDonald on board. He was the East Fife captain for a time and was a popular player with their fans. I felt we conceded too many goals last season and the bonus is that he usually chips in with a few goals as well.”

Albion begin 2009/10 with a glut of home fixtures and Moore said: “It is important that we hit the ground running because we had a slow start last year. The Raith and Ayr games in the cups will be hard as they were both promoted but we need to make home advantage count in those matches and when we start in Division Two against Stenhousemuir.”