kni

Only a few of the current squad are 1st Division standard - Robertson, Rowson, Cairney, Buchanan and, depending on his recovery, Archie. The rest (including the proposed player coaches) are past their best, unproven or simply not good enough. Frankly, we are going to struggle this season and McCall must take most of the blame. He handed out two and three year deals to ageing and unproven players. There is little or no scope to improve this squad, especially if he brings back Hinchcliffe, Maxwell and Donnelly. Blaming the Board for not investing is to avoid the big issue - McCall's judgement. He has wasted a lot of money on dud signings like Hamilton, Boyle and Hodge.

The jump from the 2nd division to the SPL could be too much too soon for Danny Lennon. Kenny McDowall ought to be candidate for the St Mirren post. Gus McPherson should be considered for the Killie job. His track record on a limited job was very good and he did not deserve the sack.

Boyle will go to Dumbarton, possibly on loan with Corcoran, which is becoming a team of Firhill rejects.

pricked up?

McCall is worried about their strength. He rejected Sanchez because he thought that he was too weak for the First Division!

The goalkeeper is the priority. Then we have to get a left back as Archie cannot play there all season. I would happy for Conroy to return on loan. Steven Kinniburgh could be another loan option, assuming that he has recovered from the injury that he got at Oxford. If we are lucky, we might be able to afford a right sided midfielder. My main concern is that the four strikers have lacked firepower in recent months.

This is would be the team based on the four new coaches and the loss of Boyle and Corcoran. Craig Hinchcliffe Paul Paton John Robertson Ian Maxwell Alan Archibald Paul Cairney David Rowson Jackie McNamara Chris Erskine Liam Buchanan Simon Donnelly Reserves Ryan Scully Willie Kinniburgh Ross McGeough Brian Hodge Ryan MacBeth Martin Grehan Kris Doolan

This is our team based on currently signed players. Ryan Scully Paul Paton John Robertson Willie Kinniburgh Alan Archibald Paul Cairney David Rowson Brian Hodge Chris Erskine Liam Buchanan Martin Grehan Reserves Graeme Sheppard Paddy Boyle Ross McGeough Ryan MacBeth Mark Corcoran Kris Doolan

The official site confirms 13 full-time players from last season, including the returning Kinniburgh and Doolan plus the unwanted Corcoran and Boyle. Add in the 3 youngsters who have been promoted to the senior squad plus the 4 player-coaches to give us a squad of 20. We also have retained four 18 year olds - striker Kieran Burns who is 18 years old (who has played in the first team), goalkeeper Graeme Shepherd, defender Jamie Campbell and defender Colin Stevenson - plus 17 year old Kyle Lochead. I would hope that Burns and Campbell in particular can compete to get in the first team. Frankly, that squad will struggle next season, especially as it is difficult to see where the goals will come from. Doolan and Grehan need to improve and Buchanan needs to regain his best form. I am dismayed that McCall thinks that Hinchcliffe can be number 2 goalkeeper again. We need at least 2 goalkeepers, a full back, a midfielder and a striker. Sadly, there is not much, (if any?) room for more signings unless Corcoran and Boyle leave. Desperate times indeed!

With Hinchcliffe as number 2 goalkeeper again, who should we sign as our number 1? Is McCall waiting for season ticket money to re-sign Halliwell? Are we in for another keeper?

Doncaster and Derby were mid-table in the Championship, a better standard than the SPL. If Tuffey wants to be NI number one, those two clubs should be his first choice if first team football is on offer. As his agent has offered to ICT, it would appear that the other clubs have not made him an offer. If Ryan Esson re-signs, it could leave Tuffey out in the cold.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hamilton_academical/8696005.stm Morton in freefall?

I hope that he might come back if McCall can get rid of the dross.

What's happened to the Spartans takeover? http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cowdenbeath/8594141.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/8679537.stm Goalkeepers are Michael McGovern (Ross County)and Alan Blayney (Linfield).

I agree with most of that. Cairney has been ill so I am confident that his form will return at the start of next season. One big concern is that we lack quality at left back. Archie is best suited to central defence. Another worry is that we have too many aging and unproven players under contract for next season.

There is no rush to sign new players as the SPL teams will be looking to trim their squads too. Our problem is that we have too many poor players under contract for next season. More young loan signings from the SPL may be the only affordable option. We need a left back and, in addition to Conroy, we could look at Jordan MacMillan or Steven Kinniburgh on loan.

Donnelly has not done much this year. Maxwell is past it. I would give Corrigan another chance and try to get Conroy back. Boyle, Hodge, Doolan, Erskine and Corcoran can leave too. Tuffey appears to be leaving and Hinchy is only fit to coach. I would give Halliwell a deal and look for another back-up. Tully could be retained and put out on loan.