FIFE SQUAD UNDERGOES RAPID RECONSTRUCTION


EAST Fife could have next season's squad sorted out within the next couple of weeks.

Seven players have left the club with seven hopefully being brought in, and all the deals could be tied up before the summer holidays.
A deal for Craig O'Reilly, who impressed on loan last season, has finally been thrashed out.
At one point his club Dundee was asking for £10,000 compensation, which proved a sticking point, but now O'Reilly has signed up.
Boss Dave Baikie said: "I am really glad a deal has been struck with Dundee over Craig. They had been bargaining with us but we have managed to sign Craig for a nominal fee and we are very pleased with that."
Greenock Morton's experienced keeper Paul Mathers has also signed up for the Fifers. The stopper was the assistant manager at Peterhead before moving to the newly-promoted First Division side.
Baikie also struck a deal on Monday night with Peterhead to bring 24-year-old left-sided player Dougie Cameron to Bayview.
"He is a cultured player, a good passer and a dead ball specialist," explained Baikie. "He is also versatile and can play leftback, left midfield or central midfield."
Baikie has expressed an interest in Paul McManus but dismissed reports he'd already signed the Raith striker on a three-year deal.
He explained: "McManus is a player we would be interested in. We believe Raith made a mistake on his registration form and then McManus decided not to stay.
"But we haven't signed him yet. McManus still needs to have the registration made null and void."
With the signings of former Livingston defender Steven Tweed, former East Stirling captain and central midfielder Paul Stewart, left winger Kevin Fotheringham and right back Graham Guy, Baikie is confident he has improved his side for an assault on the title.
Some players have already left with Neil Jablonski heading for Australia while John Dodds has departed because of travel problems.
Contracts for Elliot Smith, Kevin McBride, Gary Kelly, Paul Doyle, Paul Ritchie and Paul Hampshire won't be renewed, while Scott Crabbe is retiring from playing and is moving to the role of striker coach.
But John Martin, Stephan Fortune and Sam Linton, who were loaned out last season, will return and have signed two-year contracts.
Baikie said: "I am happy with the way things are going. We are far ahead of last season in terms of moulding the squad.
"It will mean a better pre-season as, last year, we still had players coming in well into preparing for the new season.
"The big plus point is there isn't such a turn around of players, and I'd like to think those coming in are better than those going out."
Last Updated: 29 May 2007

I cannot remember being so excited about the prospect of a new season with it so far away. Things are looking great with the quality of players coming into the club. The squad is oozing talent, I just hope they can deliver. All this combined with Dave's post on the new training facilities shows we are heading in the right direction.
So looking forward to the big kick off. I'd love to be on the pre season trip in July but will be sunning it up in Tenerfie instead.
Any Fifers going the junior final at the weekend?

I agree with JT, what a superb squad.

All we need now is a manager who has a clue what to do when things go wrong.

Well the pressure will be on Mr Baikie right from the start. If we're not in a strong position by say the end of September I think he'll be on his way out while there is plenty of time for a new manager to put things right.

I'm yet to fully understand the logic of releasing McBride and Smith, who will replace them in the full-back positions?

I'd imagine Guy, Fotheringham, Linton, Cameron or Dair.

when do the bookies start taking bets!?!

I_10, I think it's something they've always done.