Elgin City's new goalkeeper Daniel Hoban can push current Borough Briggs number one Thomas McHale for his place, says Black and Whites' boss Gavin Price
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SIGNING Daniel Hoban from Forfar Athletic gives Elgin City keeper Tom McHale the competition he needs to get even better.
That's the view of City manager Gavin Price, who signed ex-Caley Thistle man Hoban (23) from Forfar Athletic this week.
McHale was backed up by inexperienced youngster Oliver Kelly last season, with City looking to loan Kelly out to Highland League football next term to give him more games.
Price now expects Hoban - who has a loan spell at Elgin as McHale's understudy in 2019-20 - to push the current man between the sticks for his place in the team.
"Like every position on the park we need strong competition," said price. "That's what you expect as a centre forward or a centre half so you expect it for the goalkeeper position as well.
"It will help both goalkeepers and make us strong.
"It’s no disrespect to young Ollie, I think he needs to go out and play games and hopefully we are going to get him out on loan next year.
"But Daniel's arrival certainly gives us that strength that most other clubs have in the goalkeeping position.
"It will benefit Thomas as well, he’s got to have that edge to keep improving.
"I don’t think it’s been fair on him not having that competition. Every player needs that to push him on further."
Price is also pleased to bring in 28-year-old centre back Creag Little from Stenhousemuir.
With Stephen Bronsky still pondering a new deal with the Black and Whites due to new employment in the police, the Elgin manager was happy to bring in another experienced defender.
"I’ve liked him for a couple of seasons," he said.
"I was down watching Stenhousemuir before we played them towards the end of the season and I liked his character on the pitch.
"He’s a good talker which we need and quite a dominant player. I think he will organise well and when we enquired about him he was keen to come.
"We had a good chat and I thought he was the right fit for us.
"We are not making a lot of changes to the squad but where we are we want to get players in who will work with the way we are trying to do things and what we are trying to do."
Price said winger Tony Dingwall has agreed to sign another one year deal, and midfielder Angus Mailer has penned a two-year extension.
Archie Macphee came in on a permanent transfer from Formartine United at the end of the season, with striker Smart Osadolor leaving City.
