One of Forres Mechanics' 2011-12 title-winning squad returns to Mosset Park as Gordon McNab completes switch from Nairn County on one-year contract
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FORRES Mechanics have brought one of their championship-winning squad from a decade ago back to the club.
Gordon McNab (32) has signed for the Cans on a one-year deal after leaving home town club Nairn County.
Mechanics manager Charlie Rowley said the midfielder has improved greatly since being a fringe player in a very strong Forres squad when they won the league in 2012.
"He was with us in that championship season but probably didn't feature much," said Rowley.
"That title side had close to 11 starters guaranteed every week given the success we had, so anyone on the outside looking in found it difficult to get into that starting line-up.
"But that's nothing against his quality, and there’s no question that he has significantly improved since then as his performances for Nairn have shown.
"When we played against Nairn the year before last he was a real threat to us, so when we heard he could be available we got in touch with Nairn and spoke to him.
"He had other suitors as you can imagine but luckily he has chosen to come to us."
McNab came through the books of Ross County in his youth before joining Clach, where he failed to make a breakthrough as a teenager.
He joined Strathspey Thistle where he caught Mechanics' eye and they signed him up for a memorable year when the club won only the second Highland league title in their history.
McNab then drifted into junior football with Nairn St Ninian and Inverness City before returning to the Highland League for brief spells at Huntly and Rothes.
He spent a season at Wick Academy before signing for Nairn, where he was players' and supporters' player of the year in his first campaign.
Signed for another year at Station Park, last season turned out to be virtually a non-starter due to the Covid situation, and his contract expired this summer.
Rowley has also signed centre back Ruari Fraser from Formartine United and attacking midfielder Paul Brindle from Brora Rangers, as well as striker Owen Loveland on loan from Elgin City.
Mechanics also lured ex-Ross County kid Jack Grant and former Rothes defender Dale Wood to Mosset Park before opting to sit out last season, and both have yet to make competitive debuts for the club.
The bulk of the Cans' squad from their last season in 2019-20 have signed again, with only Ryan Farquhar and James Ross failing to sign new deals at present.
Rowley also hopes to sign a second goalkeeper as back-up to Stuart Knight.
