Cambuslang Rangers co-boss Billy Campbell says the club won’t stand in the way of their stars’ progression – but they have a league to win first.
With the Wee Gers six points clear at the top of the West of Scotland League Conference B table – and with a game in hand – Campbell knows his stars are attracting interest.
But he wants to keep the squad as intact as possible as they move into a crucial period of the season and that includes 36-goal hero Scott Williamson.
Asked if enquiries had been made for Williamson in particular, Campbell said: “There are one or two clubs who have been asking about two or three of our players – certainly the way they’ve been playing they’re bound to attract attention – but the clubs have been told we’re more than happy for them to come and speak to the boys when it’s appropriate.
“But we’re in the middle of a really important part of our season, so we don’t want disruption or their minds to be distracted, because they have a job to do with us.
“If that becomes the case then we’ll be more than willing for the boys to speak to clubs and see if it’s a move that they fancy, or they think it’s a step forward for them.
“As much as it sounds painful, it’s part of the job that we have.
“Our job is to try and push these guys and try to get them into full-time roles or decent part-time roles in the levels above.
“There is going to be interest, so that will need to be discussed quite soon, with regards to who we want to retain.
“We’re not going to hold boys back if they feel there is a progression there for them.
“But the plan is to try and retain as many of the key players as we can, if not all of them.”
Meanwhile, Rangers have “two or three” targets themselves, but Campbell says no business will be done until an appropriate time.
He added: “We have two or three targets of our own, guys we’re working on and looking at just now, but they’re tied up at clubs and as soon as the opportunity arises, we might have those conversations.
“We’d be doing everybody a disservice if we weren’t looking to try and improve, replace, or whatever it may be during that period.
“If there is anybody that we’re interested in we’ll contact the club and make sure we’re able and allowed to speak to them – we’ll follow all the proper protocols.
“But we’re not focusing too much other than trying to get ourselves through the season.
“Then we’ll start to look at the future, but we have a very important job to do as it is, so we need to try and stay focused on that.”
Cambuslang return from their festive break when they host Greenock on Saturday and Campbell is well aware of their threat the fourth-place side will pose.
He said: “We’re training Tuesday and Thursday before a massive game against Greenock on Saturday, who had a fantastic result against Gartcairn just before we broke up, with a late winner.
“They’ve changed their manager and have half a dozen new players as well, so we’ll need to be well prepared for that, but we’re looking forward to it.
“The games are going to start coming thick and fast. We’ve got the league now, then a couple of cup games and back into the league again, so it will be a busy period for everybody at the club.
“We’re looking okay; we’ve worked to put ourselves into that position, but it’s the old adage where we just need to take it a game at a time.”
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