Kmcalpin

It's intriguing and we just don't know. If rumours are to be believed, we're looking to acquire another senior keeper. We've released young John Bogan. Where does that leave Matty Connelly? Another season out on loan?

Agreed. We really don't know much about new signings yet. That's another issue. It's very early days; contracts end next week; and the transfer window doesn't open for weeks. However the retained list is the strangest one I can recall. There will be stories behind it though, to which we're not party.

I quite get that we're fishing in the same pond as a number of other Premiership clubs. You can almost bet that anyone we chase will be well known to the likes of Don Cowie, Craig Levein, Stephen Robinson etc. At the outset, I except Callum Slattery's offer, due to his unfortunate circumstances. He will be a special case. SK accepts the premise that the defence was poor last season. He has said so in public. As I said before, presumably they were coached to eradicate the collective and individual weaknesses. That did not work. You're then looking at personnel changes. If certain players were failing last season then there's a very high probability that they'll fail next season. Why not bring in "suitable" new faces who would possibly fail as opposed to keeping those who most probably would fail? As the adage goes, if something doesn't work why repeat it? Yes, there are risks but we can't just go again with the same failing crew. Can all of last season's defensive failings all be attributed to a poor goalie and poor defensive midfield? Given the amount and nature of the goals we lost, I don't think so. Wing back will be an interesting position. We've lost Gent, Devine and never really had Montgomery. IF SOD re-signs, he'll be a year older and slower. Interesting that Ewan Wilson has been given a year long deal. Will he be loaned out again or given his chance? If we rely on loans, then we're looking at bringing them in well after the season has commenced. A busy summer ahead and we're off to an intriguing start.

Of course there will be joint discussions between the three. However, SK will be very well aware indeed and extremely well informed about the current state of the market including wage levels. He will have discussed with Nick Daws the level and kind of players he's looking for. The CEO will will also have an input I'd guess about wage levels. In short, Nick Daws will have a very good idea about the type of player to scout and the their likely wage demands. All that said it will be SK's decision and his alone as to whether to offer an existing player a contract or or not. He'll give the CEO a steer about wage levels to offer. It wouldn't be the first time that a manager of ours has said to a CEO (or equivalent) "Don't offer him above £x as he's not worth it." Also not the first time a CEO or equvalent has said to the manager "We'll push the boat out to keep him" and the manager replied "No we won't I don't want to keep him". What it boils down to is can SK live with a player's weaknesses or does he think we can do better by bringing someone else in. These matters will be down to SK and him alone, albeit with input from the others.

Good point. Most of us would agree that our defence was poor last season. That also involves the midfield but we'll leave that aside for the time being. SK also commented about this weakness so he knew about it. Presumably coaching was not successful in improving our rearguard. That being the case, I simply cannot comprehend why the defence is being left pretty much as is. The only reasonable explanation I can come up with is the one which Weeyin has proposed; that is some defenders, currently under contract will be shipped out. Quite simply I'm scratching my head.

Agreed. Of course the Head of Recruitment will have a role, but he'll have been working to SK's instructions. Likewise, the CEO will have a technical role in setting the overall budget and checking contract details to ensure they're in line with the club's best interest. However neither should be interfering as such, in SK's team building plans or player recruitment.

Some strange decisions. If Oxborough wasn't deemed good enough to step in when Kelly was in poor form, why has he been offered a new deal? Will he be back up or No 1? Matty Connelly? Where does he stand? Will he be back up or be No 3 at his age? I really don't get why Bevis has been offered a new deal and Callum Butcher? Maybe it was to help the latter to recover from injury? Callum Slattery offered a deal to do the right thing by him? Presumably Ross Tierney won't be in SK's plans? No mention at all of the invisible man, aka Jon Obika. Overall though I'm gobsmacked at the loyalty shown to our defence after a very poor season. I assumed that was in line for a major overhaul. Was it all Liam Kelly's fault after all! Just think if Butcher and Kelly had accepted new deals - it would almost have been the exact same defence! Some answers but more questions!

Just to put matters in a general context, I've just been speaking to a Raith Rovers fan who was at the game last night. He said that Ross County were a level above them and the gap between the the top of the Championship and the bottom of the Premiership is substantial. Thats not to say the odd decent player can't make the step up.

I assume SK or one of his agents will be at Stark's Park tonight.

Callum Slattery re-signing?

Absolutely. Quite apart from his form, his attributes are incompatible with the guys in front of him and the system we play. He/they have not been a good fit. He started off well, when he first signed, but his form this season has been poor. The defence has had to alter its gamplean to compensate for his lack of height and weakness in the air. That said, our defence and midfield haven't gven him the cover a keeper is entitled to. Best for both parties if he moves on.

This covers players in all positions according to BC.

If it turns out that we're offered £800K + add ons for Bair then we should take it. He may not replicate this season's form next year. Yes, that will leave us short up front, but hopefully SK has been preparing for this very scenario. My one proviso is that that any fee received is not used to plug financial gaps. Those gaps should be addressed by external investment and/or the Society proposal.

I don't know about being finished but I see where you're coming from. He's been very solid; a steadying influence if you like, but his form has tailed off. He'll also be a year older and slower next season. I know its a rumour, but a 12 month deal wouldn't be unreasonable for him OR preferably SOD, but not both. . Given our defensive record over the past year, tinkering with the defence will do no good. It needs a complete overhaul.

Jordan Tillson being mentioned on P & B. Defensive midfielder.

According to P & B Barry Maguire has been released. No great surprise but good luck to him. Being ruthless, he took up a wage but didn't play. Hope he finds another club maybe at Championsip or League 1 level.

I heard the same rumour in the POD Stand yesterday, from a Fife based source. He has a year to go on his contract

This excerpt from the Herald article may clarify matters "Clubs tend to protect themselves by insisting the player must pass a medical on the day his contract begins, a clause that allowed Celtic to cancel the transfer of Jaroslaw Fojut last summer after the Pole sustained a knee injury."

We just don't know. This link, from the Herald, might provide some enlightenment. In short, the devil is in the detail. IF a PCA has been signed, and we don't know that it has, it might be subject to a medical before actual signing the permanent deal i.e. the Celtic/Fojut case. https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/13101399.case-pre-contract-not-legally-binding/

Thats it for me. If the Society had to fork out £750K, for one year, the coffers would be empty and we could not meet any guarantee required. I'd guess, at current levels, the Society might be able to raise say £150K per year? We'd then be relying on player sales, which can be unpredicable. Thats why the Society needs an alternative proposal. None of this takes into account the discretionary additional finances that might be required to keep us competitive with the likes of St Johnstone or St Mirren.

Was there not also a cancelled PCA spat between Ross County and St Johnstone?

As someone else has said, he can't have signed a permanent deal as he's still on Hearts' books. There may be a PCA or gentleman's agreement but that's it.

He had his strengths but was bit undisciplined and a one man band. You wouldn't want to be playing beside him.

There's been some discussion on P & B about the Society not necessarily needing to put the external investment proposal to a vote, if it deems it to be pretty unacceptable. I don't know. However, if it doesn't put the proposal to a vote, it has to come up with a credible alternative financial plan to put to members.

Hopefully the much awaited release list will be published this week. We don't want to read about too many "Contract offered but awaiting response" entries.