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New Forres Mechanics signing Dale Wood could start his Cans' career on the sidelines if his lengthy Scottish FA suspension stands


By Craig Christie

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FORRES Mechanics signing Dale Wood hopes his new club can write off his SFA suspension to allow him to play again this year.

Forres Mechanics manager Charlie Rowley puts new signing Dale Wood through his paces at training. Picture: Daniel Forsyth..
Forres Mechanics manager Charlie Rowley puts new signing Dale Wood through his paces at training. Picture: Daniel Forsyth..

Cans completed a three-year deal last week to take Wood (23) in from Rothes, as well as signing former Ross County midfielder Jack Grant (19) on a two-year contract. Wood was handed a 20-match ban by the Scottish FA last season, charged with betting on his team’s matches along with goalkeeper Robbie Donaldson.

The defender has only served half his suspension due to the coronavirus lockdown, and Mechanics are pleading with the authorities not to carry the player’s penalty over when he was unable to serve it because no football was being played.

“I’m still under suspension for another 10 matches but I think Forres are going to get in contact and see if they can get some sort of agreement with the SFA.

“The ban would have been finished if the pandemic didn’t come in so here’s hoping they take it into consideration at least.”

However it is understood that the Scottish FA may not be keen to reduce Wood's punishment, and the player could be set for more time on the sidelines.

Wood is raring for a return to action having started pre-season training with Forres last week.

His decision to swap a Rothes club finishing third in the Highland League last term for Mechanics may have raised some eyebrows, but he insists he needed to begin a new chapter in his career.

“Charlie (Cans’ boss Rowley) knew I was out of contract and got in touch with me asking what the craic was at Rothes,” he explained.

“I hadn’t heard anything from Rothes at the time, so I said to him I would be quite keen to see where things go.

“Last week Rothes asked me to go down to MacKessack, I met with them and was told I would have another deal on the table.

But I think by then my mind had been made up for a fresh start.

“I think it’s definitely what I’m needing after the last few months I’ve had. It was a tough choice, I’ve got a lot of good memories at Rothes and they are a club making progress.

“But I still feel Forres are a club progressing as well,. They’ve just signed a young boy from Ross County and there’s some good young players in their ranks, not just an ageing team that people associate them with.”

Rowley said: “Dale has had three good years at Rothes and Jack had a successful season at Keith – they pushed the boat out to sign him but he wanted to play somewhere a wee bit closer to home.”


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