News

Having completed four new signings this week, Paul Hartley has pledged the work will continue as he tries to assemble a squad ready to once again challenge at the top of League One.

With ten players leaving Balmoral Stadium at the end of last season, the manager knew it was going to be a busy summer, and he is delighted with the captures already announced: Robbie Mutch, Liam Parker, David Eguaibor and Layton Bisland.

He says supporters can expect more new arrivals in the coming weeks:

“We are still a wee bit short in numbers, we’ll possibly need another five or six to come in, but we have to be patient and make sure we sign the right ones. The main thing is we are making progress.

“The loan market dictates things, and that worked so well for us last season, but sometimes that doesn’t happen until a bit later.”

Paul knows he can rely on stalwarts like Mitch Megginson, Fraser Fyvie, Blair Yule and Mikey Doyle, and has further quality in the shape of Arron Darge, Ryan Harrington and Declan Glass, but he is also keen to see what his younger players have to offer:

“We’ve got the young boys who are part of the squad, Milosz Ochmanski, Mikey Miles and Cole Donaldson – who suffered a terrible leg break last season – and after various loan spells, they will get a chance in pre-season. It will be up to them to take it.”

“Those kids do need to kick-on, and we need to give them that encouragement. More than anything, young players need games, and I have to say they’ve looked good so far since we came back from the break. They will get outings pre-season and we’ll see if they’re equipped and ready for the first team.

“With the Challenge Cup in a different format this year there will be more games, so there will be more opportunities, and we need a good group to cover the extra matches.”

Paul is well aware of how demanding a campaign this one is likely to be, and aims to ensure he has that covered:

“We were a bit short towards the end last season, injuries and the fact we had forty-eight games, so we have to try to think about that as well. I don’t want too big a squad, but we do need quality, and I want real competition for most positions.

“It’s not easy, and given our location we have a smaller pond to choose from, lots of players simply won’t commit to making what can be up to a five-hour round trip. There are so many players out there, but they have to be willing, and they have to be good enough to add value for the club.”

For now, the manager will keep monitoring the hopefuls, and aims to have his squad fully assembled and ready by the end of the Premier Sports Cup group stage:

“We’ve had a number of players in training and I’ve spoken to them all, told them to see this as an opportunity; it’s down to them to show me how good they are.

“The aim is always to have the full squad ready in time for the first league game of the season. We had a good group last year, and that took a wee while before it settled down, but when it did, we saw the benefit of having been patient and waiting for the right players.”

Article Copyright © 2025. Permission to use quotations from this article online is only granted subject to appropriate source credit and to www.coverangersfc.com

Huntly Pre-Season Friendly No Longer Going Ahead »