Rothes manager Ross Jack looks to strengthen his squad once Highland League football returns from Covid-19 shutdown
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ONCE plans to return to football action are in place, Ross Jack is eager to strengthen his player pool at Rothes.
The MacKessack Park manager has his eye on players freed by senior clubs over the summer, including a crop rejected by Premiership side Ross County.
But until the roadmap for returning to training and eventually competitive action is put in place for Scottish football, Jack feels the game is at a crossroads.
"We're all desperate to get back to some sort of football but of course we have to wait until it is safe to do so," he said.
"I saw some of the SFA lists of players being released, some of them from Ross County. But it would be wrong of me to give any players false hope at this stage when we just don’t know what’s going to happen.
"If there’s a couple available that suits our needs and boost our squad then I’ll do it nearer the time but at the moment we’ve got no indication as to when a start will be."
Jack expects Rothes to be granted third spot in last season's curtailed Highland League season behind champions Brora and runners-up Fraserburgh on an average points-per-game basis.
He is pleased with the quality of his squad but with four loan players returning to their parent clubs, he has to strengthen in depth.
A goalkeeper is top of his priority list, as Ewen Macdonald went back to Formartine United while youngster Tommy Dixon-Hodge was one of a number of players released by Ross County this week.
"Tommy lives in England and from speaking to him, it seems he would prefer to stay down south," Jack added.
"I was very impressed by the young man and very surprised he was released by Ross County. I doubt he will end up back in the Highland League."
Teenage midfield star Jack Brown returned to Caley Thistle and Darryl McHardy has another year of his contract to see out at Elgin City.
The rest of the Rothes squad remain, with deals soon expiring on defenders Paul MacLeod and Jamie Duff and striker Gary Kerr.
"I’ve indicated to the board that I would like to keep Paul and Gary, while with Jamie it will depend on his injury.
"I’ve spoken to him at length about certain things and he has to prove his fitness first before anything can be put on the table. Unfortunately his knee has been a problem, he has been doing things to try and strengthen it so we will see how it is."
