Football Season Guide

Annan Athletic

In


Tommy Goss (att) Queen of the South); Kyle Fleming (mid) Dundee; Rob McCartney (att) Carlisle United; Roan Steele (def) Carlisle United; Chris Johnston (mid) Clyde; Dominic Docherty (mid) Stirling Albion; Ryan Adamson (gk) Bo'ness United; Greg Fleming (gk) Stranraer; Charlie Barnes (def) Carlisle United; Charlie Birch (def) Carlisle United;

Out


Mark Docherty (def) Clyde; Aaron Splaine (sp)(mid) Clyde; Max Wright (r)(att) Albion Rovers; Nathan Flanagan (sp)(mid) Stirling Albion; Alex Mitchell (r)(gk) Blyth Spartans; Ryan Sinnamon (def) BSC Glasgow; Russell Currie (sp)(mid); Harry Emerson (sp)(def); Brian Kinnear (gk) Rangers – loan ended; Ross Munro (gk) Ross County – loan ended; Alex McCaw (att) St Mirren – loan ended; Ross Love (sp)(def) Ayr United; Dean Watson (att) Partick Thistle – loan ended; Darren Christie (att) Pollok – loan ended.

Annan endured another difficult season but eventually settled for 8th place and well clear of Brechin City at the bottom. Only 2 wins in their opening 16 fixtures meant they were in trouble, but a strong finish with only 1 defeat in their final 6 fixtures saw them to safety. Manager Peter Murphy has retained his role and is keen for a better showing in the coming season. Midfielders Docherty and Splaine have stepped up to join Clyde in League One. Flanagan, with 17 appearances last season, has joined rivals Stirling Albion and striker Max Wright has gone to Albion Rovers. Love’s loan spell from St Mirren is over and he leaves a gap in defence. Significantly, first choice goalkeeper Alex Mitchell has joined Blyth Spartans. Experienced Greg Fleming as signed as Mitchell’s replacement with Ryan Adamson also signing. Chris Johnson and Dominic Docherty bring some League Two experience to the midfield area. Tommy Goss had a frustrating time on the bench at Queen of the South last season and is looking forward to more game time with Annan. Several ex-Carlisle youths, Birch, Barnes and Steele, have also signed up. Annan had a strong end to a difficult season and are hoping to bring that form into this season. Home form must improve after they failed to win any of their first 7 league matches at Galabank (W0 D2 L5) last season. If their recast midfield settles then they should improve on last season’s poor showing.

Target


If Annan can maintain the form they ended last season with, then the play-offs are a possibility.