Two players leave Elgin City as Archie Macphee heads Down Under and Joel MacBeath takes on new career in the police
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ELGIN City have parted company with midfield duo Archie Macphee and Joel MacBeath - and are on the trail of a striker.
Macphee (28), who had had five spells at Borough Briggs over a total of seven seasons, is moving to Australia and has been released from his current City contract.
MacBeath (20) had been on loan at Highland League Huntly but was recalled by City and released to pursue a new career in the police.
Manager Gavin Price said on Macphee's departure: "Archie has finished with the club, he is away to Australia and we wish him all the best.
"He’s a had a tough personal time recently and we knew it was always on the cards that he is going.
"I have worked with him on and off for the last seven years and he is a great guy to work with.
"He’s been a really good servant to Elgin, a great player and we will certainly miss him."
The former Ross County player, who had a loan spell at Forres and also played for Formartine United, recently made his 200th appearance for Elgin in a 1-0 defeat at Stranraer in November.
MacBeath also started his career at Ross County and joined Elgin in the summer of 2020, having been on loan at Montrose for a spell.
He made just two competitive starts for City and 15 substitute appearances, before being loaned to Huntly where he scored four goals this season.
Two more City youngsters have been loaned out, with midfielder Jake Thomson rejoining Strathspey Thistle and striker Cameron Angus going to Deveronvale for the rest of the season.
Price is keen to bring in another striker and revealed he missed out on his main, unnamed target.
He has been linked with a loan move for Ross County's teenage front man Matthew Wright, who scored 21 goals on loan at Brora Rangers during the first half of the current Highland League season.
"We are looking at another striker for competition and then we are looking not too bad," Price said.
"We have until February for loans so there is no mad rush but if we want to sign a player (permanently) it has to be done soon."
Brian Cameron and Matthew Cooper are expected to be back from injury in two weeks time.
