Football Season Guide

Annan Athletic

In


Jordan Pettigrew (Goalkeeper, Dumbarton), Cameron Clark (Defender, Queen’s Park), Jordan Lowdon (Defender, Stirling Albion), Tyler Fulton (Defender, Eastfield AFC), Aaron Spilane (Midfielder, Free agent), Jack Purdue (Midfielder, Queens Park), Kyle Fleming (Midfielder, Dundee, Season-long loan), Lewis Hunter (Midfielder, East Fife), Max Wright (Midfielder, Stirling Albion), Aidan Smith (Attacker, Peterhead), Iain Anderson (Attacker, Dalbeattie Star)

Out


Lyle Avci (Goalkeeper, released), Andrew Rodden (sp) (Defender, Partick Thistle, Loan ended), Ayrton Sonkur (sp) (Defender, Stranraer), Jack Brennan (Defender, Gretna), James Ballantyne (r) (Defender, BSC Glasgow), Jamie Walker (Defender, Caledonian Braves), Kyle Bradley (Defender, released), Michael Hewitt (Defender, Ayr United, Loan ended), Jordan Holt (sp) (Midfielder, Workington AFC), Kyle Wilkie (r) (Midfielder, East Kilbride), Scott McLean (r) (Midfielder, Darvel), Christian Nade (r) (Attacker, Troon), Lewis McLear (sp) (Attacker, released), Niyah Joseph (r) (Attacker, Hamilton Academical, Loan ended), Russell Currie (Attacker, released), Tommy Muir (k) (Attacker, Stenhousemuir)

Peter Murphy will probably have breathed a sign of relief after hearing of the cancellation of last season due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Galabankies never recovered from the previous summer when the squad which reached the 2019 play-off final was dismantled. They lost several key men and were unable to replace them with similar quality. Their campaign never got going with some mixed performances coupled with several injuries. Murphy will be looking to prove his credentials again but has meagre resources at Galabank. He has been dealt one key blow this summer with the departure of leading goalscorer Tommy Muir, who has opted for a move to Stenhousemuir. That blow has been softened somewhat by the return of Aidan Smith, who was outstanding during the 2018/19 season before moving to Peterhead. There is also a return for winger Max Wright whilst Cameron Clark and Jack Purdue bring League 2 experience with them after spending last season at Queen’s Park. Midfielder Owen Moxon will be hoping to return after missing the whole of last season through injury. Murphy will be hoping his side can get off to a good start and without a dominant side like Cove Rangers; League 2 is looking rather open this season.

Target


Play-offs. Murphy has done it once and, with the experience of last season under his belt, there’s no reason why they can’t be in running for the top four again.