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Blair Yule has followed his long time team-mate Connor Scully in pledging his future to the club. The midfielder has spent the best part of a decade with Cove Rangers, interrupted only by a brief spell at Arbroath, and has now agreed a new contract which will take him through to the summer of 2025.

Blair says it was not a difficult decision to commit to the extended deal:

“I always wanted to stay here; it was just a case of getting things tied-up. I’m happy at the club, we’ve enjoyed a successful run in recent years, so the thought of starting all over again elsewhere wasn’t appealing.

“It helps that I’m playing alongside a group of boys I’ve known since we were kids, and they’re not just team-mates, they’re friends. That helped to make the decision an easy one.

“It was a frustrating start to the season for me personally, missing the first ten games, but I’ve enjoyed being back in the side, and the new contract is a nice boost just before Christmas.”

Manager Jim McIntyre is delighted to have tied Yule up for another couple of years:

“You saw just how valuable Blair is to the team when he had that long injury layoff at the start of the season. We missed his drive and energy, and it has been a major plus having him back; I’ve really enjoyed the partnership he has developed with Charlie Gilmour.

“So, it is great news that he’s signed the new deal, and that he will be here for at least two more seasons.

“It also gives us that continuity, and emphasises the importance of having that spine of local boys in the team. Maintaining that identity is a non-negotiable for everyone at the club.”

The Friday night meeting with Hamilton will be a welcome return to action after what has been a frustrating time for the boss, with the weather disrupting training and forcing the cancellation of last weekend’s trip to Dundee:

“There have been times this season when the games have been coming thick and fast, and we’ve had a catalogue of injuries, so it has been really intense. In some ways, after a three week break, it’s almost like starting all over.

“It is just a case of pressing the reset button, and let’s go again.

“We’re coming into a really important period; this will see us complete the second quarter of the campaign, and we all know the importance of the match against Hamilton.

“Both sets of players are fully aware of how vital it could be. It’s a chance for us to open up a really healthy lead over them, but they’ll be looking at it as an opportunity to pull us back closer. We’re at home, we’re generally strong at Balmoral Stadium, and we’ll be looking to build on the good results we’ve enjoyed here so far.”

Blair also sees room for optimism, and believes the match against Hamilton could be pivotal:

“You do look at the league table, you’re aware of the points and your position, so this game, given it’s against one of the sides below us, clearly takes on added importance.

“It was a sore one down there when we threw away that three goal lead, so it’s definitely a case of unfinished business, and there will be an edge to this one.”

Shay Logan will miss the match because of a calf problem, but Kyle McClelland is back in contention after a twelve-week layoff, having finally recovered from his serious ankle injury. That apart, Jim McIntyre has a full squad to choose from.

Our interview with Blair Yule can be found at the CRFC YouTube channel.

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