Blantyre Vics have been given a major boost with news that attacker Lewis MacDonald has u-turned on a move to Petershill and extended his contract at Castle Park.
It was reported that MacDonald and teammate Gavin Miller had agreed to join the Peasy, with Nadeem Zeb also moving to Arthurlie.
But Vics boss John Gibson says he’s delighted that MacDonald has opted to stay and extend his contract, alongside Garry Campbell, Craig Kerr and Martin Smith.
Delighted Gibson said: “Lewis MacDonald has been re-signed, so we’re delighted with that.
“Lewis was definitely one we wanted to keep. He had agreed to go to Petershill but then had a wee change of heart, came back to me, asked if there was still a chance, so I said ‘of course!’.
“We think a lot of Lewis at Blantyre, and he has been great for us, so we’re delighted that he’s changed his mind.
“That’s a real boost for us, but they’re probably not happy about it at Petershill.”
Gibson has also moved to bring in five new faces, signing Scott Gibson and Jordan Marshall from Cumbernauld Colts, ex-Stirling Albion and Kirkintilloch Rob Roy star Grant Brennan, Peter O’Donnell from Lanark United and winger Ronan Kearney from East Stirlingshire.
And he said: “I’m also having a look at a couple, so I’m not done yet.
“Most of the others have re-signed from last season, but I’ve lost a couple of players.”
Vics have lined up eight pre-season friendlies, starting at Cumbernauld Colts on June 12, with home games against Ashfield and St Cadoc’s YC on the 15th and 19th.
Gibson’s side travel to Fauldhouse on June 23, and host Greenock three days later.
There are three more in July, at Lanark on the 3rd, at home to Shotts four days later, and finishing up at Neilston on July 10.
Gibson said: “Pre-season started last week for a couple of nights, and started back in earnest on Monday.
“I’ve lined up eight games because I just feel that the players haven’t played for a while, and it’s good to get them a lot of game-time so we can be ready to get started on July 17.
“They’re good games against a lot of teams who have done well, and we’re happy with that.
“With any luck we’ll be able to get fans in for at least some of them as well.
“We can get up to 250 so that’s a positive, and even more if we go into level one.”
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