2026/27 Ins & Outs Discussion

[grizzlyg]

I think JBA would be best staying another season and making stock higher. These last 7 games are where we see his credentials even more hopefully as teams are sussing us out and he needs to vary it.  Yesterday his time in making changes was very poor. Big Thor should have been on a lot earlier and I would have taken Watt off before Priestman

[MJC]

4 minutes ago, grizzlyg said:

I think JBA would be best staying another season and making stock higher. These last 7 games are where we see his credentials even more hopefully as teams are sussing us out and he needs to vary it.  Yesterday his time in making changes was very poor. Big Thor should have been on a lot earlier and I would have taken Watt off before Priestman

Time will tell but I don’t think anything is certain yet over him staying or leaving.

Obviously money talks and if a bigger club who can offer him more money come in then he will go. But that is a big ‘if’ still I feel. I don’t think he’s at the stage yet or done enough yet to have Celtic or English Championship sides seriously considering him. But maybe they will, as I said time will tell.

Of course he may chose to leave of his own accord and take a job in or nearer his home country like Michael Wimmer did. Or he might not and instead opt to stay with us. But of course he then runs the risk of him not hitting the same levels he did this season and his stock falls as a result. Let’s face it, both Celtic and Rangers will not have another season like this one for a long time. At least one of or probably both of them will be a lot stronger and a lot more consistent. Hearts will spend money too and Aberdeen, if they survive that is, will be stronger next season you would think. 
 

JBA is 43 years old and therefore still a young manager and still developing his coaching skills. Bigger clubs especially Celtic who demand instant success might view him as too risky an appointment at this stage.

[weeyin]

4 hours ago, MJC said:

Put it this way, if he was to go to Celtic as has been mentioned by some then he would flop spectacularly in my opinion.

I agree with that. He needs a club where he has complete freedom to implement his ideas, allowed to bring in the players he wants, and patience from the fans.

Neither of the OF sides would allow that.

[wunderwell]

On 3/21/2026 at 9:44 AM, thewelllfan said:

I think being realistic I expect that our Squad next season before signings will look like :- 

GK - Ward, Connolly 

RB - Sparrow, SOD

CB - McGinn, McGhee

LB - Longelo, Wilson

CM - Watt, Preistman, Fadinger

Rw - Said

Lw - RCC

St - Bjorgolfsson, Hendry

 

Out - Maswanhise (4-5M), Just (2.5-3M), Stamatelopolous (200K), Slattery (Free), Gordon (Free), Nicholson (Free), Oxborough (Released), Koutrombis (Free), Halliday (Free), Robinson (Free), Welsh (Returns to Celtic).  (Around 7M in fees)

That would leave us needing a minimum of :- (8 Players)

- 2 CBs, 1 CM, 2 AMF (Assuming we play same shape),LW, RW and possibly a ST

There is also Balmer - who will leave  but doing very well at Bristol Rovers

[johnstone]

23 hours ago, MJC said:

There’s no certainty that JBA will leave us for another club this summer either imo. I mean there probably as as good a chance of him being here as not next season but is his pedigree as a manager that high or his performance with us this season really been that exceptional that bigger clubs would be circling him? That’s not a slight on him, I think he’s been really good for us, but he’s been knocked out of both cups in really poor fashion and his record against the top half of the league really isn’t that impressive. A lot of lovely football, yes, but also a lot of draws and from being talked about as title contenders a few weeks ago (ridiculously albeit) we’re now looking over our shoulders to stay in 4th place. 
 

Put it this way, if he was to go to Celtic as has been mentioned by some then he would flop spectacularly in my opinion.

I think you need to look beyond the points in the league and the cup games.

Jens arrived at a club that let’s be honest was playing terrible football and had essentially become a bottom six team that might just survive if we get a decent run. 

Within a summer he totally transformed our style of play, exciting to watch, hard to beat and holding onto the ball for long periods of games. 

Comfortably into the top six and have an outstanding chance of Europe. 

You have to look at where we have come from to judge how good he has been.

[Mad Dog]

I'd offer an extension to Johnny K., I think that he is good enough and has earned the right to stay (if he wants to).

I really like Nicholson, decent footballer, great personality, but quite injury-prone. He's 50/50 for me.

I had hoped to see Robinson get some games to see how he might fit in with JBA's style of playing, but, sadly, he may not get the opportunity to prove himself. The other free agents can leave with thanks, they've all played their part.

[grizzlyg]

Maswanhise out of Zimbabwe squad due to 'small issue'.  Think main issue is his form since transfer window closed.  Hopefully a 2 week break and back to full fitness will help him

[texanwellfan]

1 hour ago, grizzlyg said:

Maswanhise out of Zimbabwe squad due to 'small issue'.  Think main issue is his form since transfer window closed.  Hopefully a 2 week break and back to full fitness will help him

Can’t find his passport? 

[Spit_It_Out]

Johnny K new contract everyday of the week i think we have missed him tbh the rest can leave with my blessing.

We cant be carrying injury prone players from the Kettlewell era time to progress and add some value.

Hendry is another I be looking at to send out on loan aswell really not done anything when he was on the pitch for me.

[joewarkfanclub]

Suggestion from the Zimbabwe fans on the clubs socials that all the European based players are out in solidarity with Marshall Munetsi who has been snubbed by the current manager. No idea if there is any truth in that or not. Seems unlikely......

[Spiderpig]

I see the BBC gossip page is reporting that the ugly sisters are both going to make a move for Eli Just in the summer, must be a slow day rumour wise.

Nawrocki permanent exit mooted as Just & Ashia linked with Glasgow moves - gossip - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cm2rm71xkgro

[Kmcalpin]

57 minutes ago, Spiderpig said:

I see the BBC gossip page is reporting that the ugly sisters are both going to make a move for Eli Just in the summer, must be a slow day rumour wise.

Nawrocki permanent exit mooted as Just & Ashia linked with Glasgow moves - gossip - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cm2rm71xkgro

As always he's theirs for the taking if A) the rumour is true and B) they meet our valuation.  Otherwise they should do one. 

[Big Stall]

They can make bids for him all they want. They would be crazy to think no other clubs have noticed his form.

As for Jonny K - yep, new contract please. The lad is a good player. Baffles me how Kettlewell couldnt see it.

[weeyin]

46 minutes ago, Big Stall said:

As for Jonny K - yep, new contract please. The lad is a good player. Baffles me how Kettlewell couldnt see it.

I think the problem was he didn't fit Kettlewell's style.

Although, tbf, there were people who kept trying to convince me Casey was a good defender.

[joewarkfanclub]

17 minutes ago, weeyin said:

I think the problem was he didn't fit Kettlewell's style.

Although, tbf, there were people who kept trying to convince me Casey was a good defender.

The issue for me was that Kettlewell signed him and then froze him out.

If he didnt fit his style, why sign him?

Quite baffling behaviour.

 

[MFCL84]

On 3/23/2026 at 9:32 AM, johnstone said:

I think you need to look beyond the points in the league and the cup games.

Jens arrived at a club that let’s be honest was playing terrible football and had essentially become a bottom six team that might just survive if we get a decent run. 

Within a summer he totally transformed our style of play, exciting to watch, hard to beat and holding onto the ball for long periods of games. 

Comfortably into the top six and have an outstanding chance of Europe. 

You have to look at where we have come from to judge how good he has been.

I'll add that, the attractive football on display has increased the home attendance by over 50%. This is something that I didn't think would ever happen. This alone, must be of great benefit to the club.

[thewelllfan]

 

6 hours ago, Big Stall said:

They can make bids for him all they want. They would be crazy to think no other clubs have noticed his form.

As for Jonny K - yep, new contract please. The lad is a good player. Baffles me how Kettlewell couldnt see it.

I might be in the minority but I wouldn't give JK another contract we have SOD and Sparrow to play RB and both are already contracted as well as McGhee who can play there.

For next season in Europe we're going to need a squad of 25 including academy players.

The Squad should look like :-

GK - Ward, Connolly, Academy GK

RB - SOD, Sparrow

CB - McGinn, McGhee, 2x New CB

LB - Longelo, Wilson

CM - Watt, Preistman, Fadinger, Whyte

RW - Said, New RW

AM - Just, New AM (If Just leaves 2x AMF)

LW - RCC, New LW

ST- Bjorgolfsson, Hendry, New ST

For Europe that gives us 4 Club trained - Wilson, Whyte, Connolly, Academy GK/Can also be Luca Ross

8 HG - Wilson, Whyte, Connolly, Academy GK/Can also be Luca Ross, McGinn, McGhee, SOD, Hendry

That would mean the other signings don't have to be Scottish in order to make the Quota numbers.

The above layout assumes - (Maswanhise is sold, Welsh goes back to Celtic, Slattery, JK, Gordon, Balmer, Halliday, Robinson, Nicholson all leave at end of their deal.)

[joewarkfanclub]

21 minutes ago, thewelllfan said:

 

I might be in the minority but I wouldn't give JK another contract we have SOD and Sparrow to play RB and both are already contracted as well as McGhee who can play there.

For next season in Europe we're going to need a squad of 25 including academy players.

The Squad should look like :-

GK - Ward, Connolly, Academy GK

RB - SOD, Sparrow

CB - McGinn, McGhee, 2x New CB

LB - Longelo, Wilson

CM - Watt, Preistman, Fadinger, Whyte

RW - Said, New RW

AM - Just, New AM (If Just leaves 2x AMF)

LW - RCC, New LW

ST- Bjorgolfsson, Hendry, New ST

For Europe that gives us 4 Club trained - Wilson, Whyte, Connolly, Academy GK/Can also be Luca Ross

8 HG - Wilson, Whyte, Connolly, Academy GK/Can also be Luca Ross, McGinn, McGhee, SOD, Hendry

That would mean the other signings don't have to be Scottish in order to make the Quota numbers.

The above layout assumes - (Maswanhise is sold, Welsh goes back to Celtic, Slattery, JK, Gordon, Balmer, Halliday, Robinson, Nicholson all leave at end of their deal.)

Id rather have Luca Ross at LB than Ewan Wilson. Decent lad, but he doesnt have what it takes for the top level or he would be smashing it out the park at Raith Rovers, and he isnt.

Koutroumbis is a better RB than Sparrow and he is definitely a better LB. 

I get that he is the one out of contract and could be the makeweight to freshen up the squad, but you just need to look at what happened with injuries and suspensions this season to see tge value of versatile players.

[texanwellfan]

What I’m hoping is that JBA stands up and publicly commits to another year at Fir Park. Can you imagine What an effect that would have on the place? 
 Sadly, I know that’s not going to happen and the best we can hope for is that he actually does end up staying. Even that is probably less than 50/50 chance, so hopefully we have a plan to quickly fill JBA’s position so we can have a manager in place before the window opens. 

[wellsince75]

I’d bring in 2 new wingbacks .

we need cover or an alternative on the left .

for right id be thinking an upgrade on what we have . JK picks up lots of niggling injuries that keep him out and SOD simply doesn’t have the engine to get up the park . Sparrow for me isn’t a wing back and not sold he suits our set up , he was far more effective last season . 
 

these 2 positions together with CF are for me the weakest part of the team an area we’d be wise to invest in .