Rothes make two signings and hopeful of adding more ahead of Highland League season
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
ROTHES have signed Steven Mackay and Jake Thomson ahead of the new season.
Mackay (41) retired from playing in 2020 while manager at Brora Rangers and, until recently, had been assistant manager at Elgin City.
The veteran striker asked to train with Ross Jack's side during pre-season and after inpressing in several friendlies, he signed a one year contract with the club.
Jack said: "His experience will be invaluable to us and so will his goals.
"He has great energy, desire and his commitment is unquestionable. He was keen to come back to the Highland League and prove that he still has goals in him and we'll give him every opportunity to do that.
"He's been looking great. He's not as fast as he was, he'll admit that himself, but in terms of stamina there really aren't many fitter than him.
"He's looked after himself really well and his spells as a manager and assistant manager will be invaluable to us as well so we're just delighted to have him on board."
Meanwhile, winger Jake Thomson (20) has also penned a one year deal with the club after being released by Elgin City this summer.
The youngster already has Highland League experience under his belt having had a loan spell with Strathspey Thistle last season.
Jack said: "Jake's got blistering pace and he'll be a great outlet for us and he's got good dribbling skills so we'll be looking for him to get plenty of deliveries into the box for our strikers and midfield runners to finish. He'll be instrumental in how we play."
While the additions of Mackay and Thomson have been welcome ones, the club will also have to contend with a number of departures and long term injuries.
That includes Ewan McLauchlan who has moved to the central belt, Ross Gunn who has opted against extending his stay with the Speysiders and in perhaps the biggest blow to the club, Craig Cormack, who's work commitments mean he will be taking a step back from football.
"Ross was offered a new contract months ago but he wants to look at other options and I think he'd prefer to go elsewhere which is disappointing," Jack said.
"Craig has bought into a business so he will be taking a step back for a wee while. That has been a massive blow but the door is always open for him to come back.
"Wayne MacKintosh has had his cartilage operation, Gary Kerr is waiting on one and we're waiting to see if Bruce Milne will need one so it's been a bit stop start so far.
"We haven't recruited too many but I'd like to get one or two in whether that's before the start of the season, I don't know.
"No deals have been struck as such and there is nothing concrete, just verbals at this stage but there is a lot of work going on behind the scenes so we'll see."
Despite the club's struggles recruiting players, good news has arrived in the form of progress on the pitch at Mackessack Park. The initial groundwork on the surface has been completed and it is hoped that it will hold up to the harsh winter weather that resulted in the cancellation of a number of matches last season.
Jack added: "We haven't been able to play on it yet but we will on Saturday. We're just hoping that it can withstand the rigours of the winter. A lot of work has been done on it so let's hope that it is successful and it will be a nice surface to play on."
