Sporting director says ‘future looks very bright’ for Strathspey Thistle as club restructuring continues
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The recently appointed sporting director of Strathspey Thistle believes the “future looks very bright” as the wholesale restructuring of the club continues.
In the last month, changes at the Grantown club have seen the introduction of key strategic personnel, as well as a new management team and an almost entirely new squad of players.
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Josh Horton, the Jags’ new sporting director, appointed alongside director of football Fraser Tulloch and first team manager Bobby Beckwith, says he hopes to oversee an increase in the level of “professionalism” at the club.
Horton said: “The future looks really bright for Strathspey Thistle right now. The whole town, from Aviemore, to Kingussie, to Newtonmore — everyone across the Strathspey and Badenoch region is supporting us.
“People know myself and Fraser. We were at Grantown together for years and we had a very good relationship. The community is getting behind us as we both have a love for football and we’re well respected.
“We have had a lot of people contacting us for season tickets, and merchandise. Lots of people are really getting behind the idea.
“My role as a sporting director, along with Fraser as a director of football, is really to run everything behind the scenes, such as players, contracts, sponsorships, and to get everything together to make sure this is a professionally run club.”
The Jags moved this week to secure the services of former Nairn County boss Ronnie Sharp to come in as number two to manager Beckwith on a two-year deal.
On the new management team, Horton added: “Bobby and Ronnie — I genuinely don’t think there’s a better combination of managers.
“As far as a wealth of experience, I don’t think you’ll get anything better.”
The club has so far confirmed the signatures of 13 players ahead of the new season, with more to be announced.
Horton added: “We are very nearly there with our squad. We have kept a couple of spaces available for quality if it becomes available. If Bobby and Sharpie want a player, we’ll go out and do our best to get it done.
“This season will be about trying to get out of the bottom of the table relegation battle and then next season progress up the table a bit. Long term, we want to be up there in the top half competing.”
From last year’s squad, only Caelan Mutch and club captain James McShane remain in the plans of the management team, the latter having agreed a contract extension until the summer of 2026.
Today the club announced their two goalkeepers for the season — Kit Fletcher and Ethan Rae. They join a list so far of 11 new permanent additions to the Thistle squad.
Kit Fletcher
Goalkeeper Fletcher joins Strathspey Thistle following two seasons with former Highland League side Fort William. In April, he was named in the North Caledonian League’s team of the season for his performances with the Claggan Park side.
The former Oxford United youth is originally from West London, before moving north to play for Fort William under former manager Chris Baffour in 2022.
In two years, he played 32 times for Fort, before making a trialist appearance for the Jags in April.
Ethan Rae
Also a goalkeeper, Ethan Rae has agreed permanent terms with Strathspey Thistle following a short-term deal last season.
The 16-year-old played 14 times for the Jags last term, while on loan from Ross County, and now joins the Jags on a deal until 2025.
Ewan Neil
“Ball playing centre half” Neil joins Strathspey Thistle on a permanent deal from Rothes after a spell on loan last season.
The 22-year-old also spent half of the season at Loch Ness, where he played 12 times and earned a league winners’ medal in the North Caledonian League.
Jordan Laidlaw
Central defender Laidlaw returns to Seafield Park for a second spell, albeit previously spending just a brief time on loan from Ross County as a teenager.
He later played for Aberdeen University and in 2021 he signed for North Caledonian League side Invergordon, earning a champions’ medal in his first season.
The 27-year-old most recently played with Loch Ness, and was announced alongside Conor MacPhee and Josh Race as the manager’s first mew signings on May 3.
Jamie Calder
20-year-old Calder, who has played with both Loch Ness and Inverness Athletic in the North Caledonian League, as well as the Lilywhites’ reserve side, made his Highland League debut during the 2021-22 season.
Described by the coaching staff as a “young centre half with great composure”, he played 11 times for the Clachnacuddin first team before becoming a regular with Loch Ness last season.
Steven Macdonald
Former Grantown and Spey Valley man Macdonald returns to the football field after a one year break, on the back of two seasons with Loch Ness in the North Caledonian League.
The 32-year-old, who balances football with his commitments to shinty club Newtonmore, shall be unavailable for the Jags until September.
An experienced defender and midfielder, he is described by the management team as “composed and calm on the ball”.
Conor MacPhee
Defender/midfielder MacPhee (25) joins Thistle having spent two and a half seasons as a regular with Loch Ness in the North Caledonian League, winning the league’s championship in 2022-22.
In 70 appearances for the Fortrose-based club, MacPhee scored 15 times and went on to become the side’s captain.
His previous clubs include Nairn St Ninian, Inverness City, Clachnacuddin and Fort William.
Lewis Mackie
17-year-old Mackie, a former Inverness Caledonian Thistle youth, is another teenage name on the books for the Jags this summer.
A promising wide forward player noted by management as a “fantastic young talent”, he made his professional debut for the Inverness club in the Challenge Cup just a fortnight after turning sixteen.
Last season, he represented Caley Thistle’s second string against Clachnacuddin in the Inverness Cup, netting his side’s fourth goal in a 4-1 win.
Josh Race
Making a comeback the Grantown club, former Ross County youth Race joins on the back of a league winning season with Loch Ness in the North Caledonian League.
In three seasons with the Inverness side, he scored 23 goals over 63 games.
A “creative midfielder with an eye for goal”, the 25-year-old also has three seasons with Spey Valley on his playing record.
Liam Shewan
In a player swap deal that sees Ross Logan join Rothes in return, Shewan joins the club permanently having spent a brief time on loan last term.
The 28-year-old forward man, whose former clubs include Grantown, Nairn County and Clachnacuddin, played six times during his loan spell at Seafield Park, netting one goal.
Liam Baxter
A former Inverness Caledonian Thistle youth, Baxter arrives at Seafield Park with a wealth of Highland League experience under his belt, having played for Brora Rangers, Buckie Thistle and Forres Mechanics.
The 32-year-old striker returns to Scotland having spent seven years in Australia, where he played for various teams, scoring a reported 68 goals in 105 games.
A comment from the management team on social media said: “(Liam) is the sort of pedigree we are looking to add to our squad as we move forward as a club. We are delighted that Liam has chosen to sign for us.”
All of the club’s new additions have agreed two-year deals with the Jags, with the exception of Ethan Rae who has signed a one-year agreement.
