Transfer Speculation

With the end of the season upon us, the attention of the fans turn from league and cup medals to who will or won't be at the club next season. This time of year is always hard for managers as they have to break the bad news to players, as they bid to re-structure the club for the new season, but County's manager Scott Leitch has a doubly difficult job as he has had under two weeks to asses the players at the club. But if reports are correct he has already made several decisions on this.

It emerged on Friday that the first player to be told that they no longer have a future at Victoria Park is striker Alex Burke. It was thought that last summer that Alex Burke would leave to join St. Mirren, but a deal on the last day of the summer transfer window failed and Burke spent the season at County, although he missed the last couple of the months through injury.

It has also been reported today that following a meeting between the manager and the players that a few others have been told they are no longer in the manager's plans.

Lionel Djebi-Zadi, who joined the club on a one year deal last summer has been told he will not be offered a new contract, rumours in the past couple of weeks have suggested that Djebi-Zadi was looking for additional pay, but with the current financial situation at Ross County cuts are trying to be made in the players wage budget so the two parties could not agree on new terms. Goalkeeper Stuart Garden is another player who is out of contract and won't be offered a new deal. Garden severly damaged his knee last month while playing against St. Johnstone. With the news that he will not play again this year, an injured player is not something the budget can support.

Fergus Tiernan is anothe rplayer out of contract, he failed to hold down a regular starting place in the team this season, and has also been told that no new deal will be offered to him - Tiernan must have a sense of deja-vu as he found himself in a similar situation at the end of last season, although when John Robertson took over as manager he was invited back for pre-season training and offered a new deal.

It has also been reported that other players who are still under contract have been placed on the transfer list. These players are David Winters, Jim Lauchlan, Gary McSwegan and David Cowan. Most of these will not be much of a surprise to County fans as none have managed to command a regular starting place in the team with the exception of club captain Jim Lauchlan - although his absence from the team on Saturday suggests that maybe some players knew last week what was coming !

While it appears County are keen to hold onto the remaining players, there are rumours of other players being watched by other clubs and possible bids being made for them - although rumours linking Kevin McKinlay with Inverness CT, Don Cowie with Celtic, John Rankin with St. Mirren and Sean Higgins with St. Johnstone are all unfounded at the moment.

On a more positive note, Scott Leitch has given youngsters Neil Hooks, Joe Malin, David Niven, Adam Moffat and Craig Gunn new one year deals, all these players have been regular players in the under 19's team over the past couple of seasons, and Leitch obviously feels they are ready to make the step up to the first team.

This isnt speculation but i didnt know where else to pst it...

Scott Boyd has joined Partick Thistle on a three-year contract after a compensation fee was agreed with Livingston at the end of his loan.

The 19-year-old defender has made 12 appearances for Thistle as they claimed promotion to Division One.

Boyd told Thistle's website: "The loan move for me has worked out really well and I am absolutely delighted.

"I suppose it was a hard decision to make, but the fact that both sides are now in the same league made it easier."

I think Rankin will go to Caley, and be a total flop. I have heard from an unreliable source (superstaggie) that Craig Gunn is quite a good young player. Cannot believe that Lauchlan was let go, he was County's captain.

He was a big earner.

Second Division Arbroath have signed striker Brian Scott from juniors Scone Thistle and brought midfielder Barry Sellars back from Forfar Athletic.

Sellars, 30, who has signed a two-year deal, played for Arbroath before moving to Clyde and then Station Park.

The 21-year-old Scott has been a prolific scorer with Scone

Ross County have signed to Rangers youth players, Jason Crooks, striker, 17, Under-18 international and Graham Girvan, midfielder, 16, one Under-17 cap.

Craig Samson has signed a pre-contract agreement with Ross County.

Alloa have completed a double signing as they prepare for next season's Second Division campaign.

Manager Allan Maitland has added to his squad with the acquisition of striker Michael Hazeldine from Wigan and David McClune from Forfar.

Hazeldine, 19, has been a regular for Wigan reserves and featured on the first team substitute bench.

McClune, 23, has played mostly in midfield recently, though he can also play in defence.

Cowdenbeath have snapped up 20-year-old forward Scott Dalziel from junior side Armadale Thistle.
Cowdenbeath manager Mixu Paatelainen told the club website he had been tracking Dalziel for some time.

"I've watched him twice recently and was very impressed. We are delighted he has chosen to move to Cowden," he said.

"There was interest from other clubs but he felt this was the right move. He has great potential and will score goals for us with the right supply"

Paatelainen added that he was pleased with the way the squad was developing, but plans to add more experience with the addition of another two or three players.

Blackpool have signed 23-year-old left-back Paul Tierney from Scottish Premiership side Livingston.
The former Republic of Ireland under-21 international has agreed a two-year contract with the Seasiders with an option of a further year.

Pool boss Simon Grayson told the club website: "We tried to sign Paul in the transfer window but couldn't as Livinston didn't have a replacement.

"He has a great left foot and I am sure he will do well for us."

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Cowdenbeath have snapped up 20-year-old forward Scott Dalziel from junior side Armadale Thistle.
Cowdenbeath manager Mixu Paatelainen told the club website he had been tracking Dalziel for some time.

"I've watched him twice recently and was very impressed. We are delighted he has chosen to move to Cowden," he said.

"There was interest from other clubs but he felt this was the right move. He has great potential and will score goals for us with the right supply"

Paatelainen added that he was pleased with the way the squad was developing, but plans to add more experience with the addition of another two or three players.

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Former Scotland international midfielder Simon Donnelly has joined Partick Thistle on a two-year contract.
The 31-year-old was released by Dunfermline after two injury-blighted seasons at East End Park.

Ross County centre-half Jim Lauchlan is set to move to Ian McCall's Queen Of the South.

Ross County striker David Winters could be going to Aberdeen or Hamilton.

Ex-Ross County forward Alex Burke is on trial at Saint Johnstone.

Hugh Robertson, aka Shug, could be on his way back to Ross County.

Ex-Ross County goalie Stuart Garden could be signing for Dundee as a player/coach.

Derek Adams could be coming back to Ross County as a player/coach.

David Cowan could be on his way to Livingston.

Hamilton Academical have made two signings, bringing in strikers Richard Offiong and Javier Payo.

Ross County have signed Andy Dowie on one-year deal.

Airdrie United have completed the signing of Marc Smyth from Partick Thistle for an undisclosed fee. The 23-year-old defender captained Thistle to promotion to the First Division last season.

St Mirren striker John Baird will spend the first half of the coming season on loan to Stenhousemuir.

Ross County have got a French player on trial.

Did County manage too sign anyone then?

ROSS COUNTY IN

Craig Samson (Dundee Utd)
Andy Dowie (Stranraer)
Alex Keddie (Stranraer)
Stuart Anderson (Free Agent)
Derek Adams (Livingston)
Hugh Robertson (Free Agent)
Gary Irvine (on-loan from Celtic)
Micheal Gardyne (on-loan from Celtic)
Alex Williams (Free Agent)
Amick Ciani (Charleloi)
Jason Crooks (Rangers)
Graham Girvan (Rangers)
Martin Scott (LIvingston)
Chris Fizzle (Rangers)

ROSS COUNTY OUT

David Winters (Hamilton Accies)
Ian McCaldon (Released)
Alex Burke (Released)
Lionel Djebi-Zadi (Out of Contract)
Gary McSwegan (Released)
Stuart Garden (Released)
Jim Lauchlan (QoS)
John Rankin (Inverness Caledonian Thistle)
David Cown (Unknown)
Neil MacDonald (Released out of own choice)[/b]

Cheers buddy, very busy then!

How is Micheal Gardyne, heard he looks promising?

Yeah it is very busy but we have brought up about 6 players from the Under-19's and one from the Under-17s.

Gardyne is amazing if Celtic are looking for an attacker, Gardyne is a perfect fit. His physique is his only flaw, 5ft 6", and his nickname is "Midge". When he has the ball it is as if the ball is stuck to his feet.

Shame about County's start this season, my mate is a Clyde fan and couldn't believe how crap they have started too!