Rutherglen Glencairn boss Joe Pryce took his summer signing spree to five over the last week, and says his side are good to go for the upcoming West of Scotland League First Division campaign.
Pryce is happy going into the big kick-off on Saturday, July 29, with a squad of 24 players – but admits there’s always room for one more if the opportunity presents itself.
Glens followed up the signing of ex-St Roch’s striker Paul Brennan with left-back Matthew Meechan, 25, midfielders Austin Sime, 19, and Allan Woodhouse, 23, and 23-year-old striker Dylan Henry.
All have West of Scotland League experience or similar, with Meechan and Henry coming from Bonnyton Thistle, while Woodhouse was with Kirkintilloch Rob Roy and Sime is from Lowland League club East Kilbride’s development squad.
Meechan, who also came through East Kilbride’s development system, also played for Maryhill and Pollok United; Sime had spells with Benburb and Darvel; Woodhouse is ex-Rossvale and Pollok United, and Henry previously played for Neilston and Cumbernauld United.
“You can see with the demographic that they’re younger boys, they’re a wee bit fitter, a wee bit fresher, and we needed a wee change,” said Pryce.
“These boys will help, and we have a lot of under-21s in as well, so we seem to be shaping up okay.
“Obviously it’s pre-season, we’ve still got another two or three weeks before the season starts, but it’s knitting together well.
“It’s a squad of 24, that will be us.
“You always like to leave space for one more, but if you’re asking me if I would be happy going into the season with the group I’ve got just now, absolutely.
“If something pops up that’s better than what we’ve got, and will add to what we have and it’s in our price range, then you wouldn’t say ‘no’ to it.”
Glencairn started their friendly programme at Clydebank last night [Tuesday], with Vale of Clyde at Greenfield Football Centre on Saturday and a trip to Shettleston on July 19, before hosting St Anthony’s at the Hamish B. Allan Stadium on July 22.
Pryce reckons that will put them on good footing ahead of their league opener at Maybole on July 29.
He said: “We’re pleased with the mix of games.
“We were a wee bit behind, just with the lateness of our season finishing, but the four friendlies are fine and are good games to have.
“Clydebank is the first game, they’re a wee bit ahead of us but it’s always a good test.
“Vale are a newly-promoted team, Shettleston is always tough, as are St Anthony’s.
“They’re there just to get fitness levels up, integrate the new players into the squad and for preparation.
“There are some new players in there getting used to new team-mates and a new style of play.
“But in training all the new boys have shown up well, they look like they’re buying into what we do here, so we’re really pleased.
“The players have come back and their fitness levels haven’t dropped – they’ve looked after themselves through pre-season.”
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