Two come aboard, but Sutherland jumps ship
Strathspey Thistle manager Brian Ritchie continued his summer recruitment
drive by adding two new faces to the squad.
Cammy Gaff and Rob Stewart agreed terms with the Jags for the coming season and are expected to push for a place in the boss’s plans come the start of the new Highland League season.
Wide man Gaff returns to the club having featured in their first season at Highland League level, while Stewart also pulled on the blue jersey when Strathspey were a junior club.
Ritchie said: “Cammy and Rob have committed themselves for the coming season and they will fight for a place in the squad.
“Cammy is a fast player but he hasn’t played a lot of football for the last 18 months because of his work commitments.
“If he gets himself fit and knuckles down then he certainly has the ability to play in the Highland League. If he can take the potential he possesses on to the field then he will certainly be a positive addition for us.”
He added: “We will be looking for Rob to play a midfield role for us if he can get himself off his work. He is a policeman in Inverness so his shifts dictate whether or not he will be available for us.
“At the moment, he wants to get himself through the pre-season training and take it from there. He hasn’t played at this level but if he comes to training and puts the work in then he will get his chance.
“Like the rest of the players, Rob will get a run out in all of our pre-season games and I will have a better idea then about who has the ability. It is up to the boys themselves to show what they can do and fight for a place.”
As two new faces join the squad, defender Gary Sutherland is on his way out of Seafield Park.
The centre half was a standout performer for the Jags last season having arrived from the Inverness amateur ranks.
However, having not appeared for pre-season training, he has been placed on the transfer list at his own request following showdown discussions with Ritchie.
The Jags gaffer said: “I had been struggling to get a hold of Gary on the phone and he hadn’t been returning my texts.
“I eventually got a hold of him last week and I asked him straight out what he was planning and he answered by asking for a transfer.
“I told him that he was too good a player for us just to let go. He still has a year to go on his contract with us but he has decided he wants to leave.
“I don’t know what the reasons are behind his decision.
“I want players involved with Strathspey Thistle who are going to commit 100%. I am not going to chase boys and beg them to play because I have plenty of lads who want to play and those are the ones I am interested in.”