Boss signs up bulk of squad

Gary Pews • Published 2 Aug 2010 10:00 0 Comments

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PARTY TIME: Greenock players were celebrating a promotion in May— now they aim to stay in Central First.

GREENOCK have further strengthened their squad to cope with the rigours of the Central League First Division in the forthcoming season.

A last-day victory over Forth Wanderers saw them clinch promotion from the basement league in May, and manager Stevie Mooney has re-signed almost the entire squad from last season, with a further eight new signings taking the player pool to well over 20.

However, after just one season back at his old stamping ground, Roland Fabiani has moved on.

The police sergeant has accepted an offer of the position of player/coach at Glenafton Athletic.

Tommy Bell has also left but, asides from them, the entire squad has committed themselves to showing their promotion was no flash in the pan.

Mooney has also captured the signing of midfielder Gary Fleming from Neilston.

Fleming was at Greenock in his late teens, and will soon face his former Neilston team-mates, with the Renfrewshire club having been relegated from the Super League First Division last season.

Another former Greenock player, Kevin Brown, returns after a spell in amateur football, as do Alan and Robbie Jamieson (no relation).

Also joining up is Mick Emerson, an ex-Hamilton Accies youth player, who has just returned from a two-year scholarship in America.

Meanwhile, Mooney has mined that rich seam of young footballing talent, Drumchapel 21s, to capture keeper Stuart Waterson, and midfielders Michael Docherty and Kieran Docherty, also not related.

Greenock have two more friendlies lined up, against St Pat's FPs from Dumbarton and Steins Thistle, before the main action begins next Wednesday.

And despite Fabiani's departure, Mooney feels the squad is in better shape than this time last year.

He said: "Of course, losing Roland was a blow, as he helped on the coaching side as well as playing, but in general we have held on to more of our squad this time round.

"We are definitely more prepared than we were last season, and are excited about testing our abilities at a higher level after our promotion."

l Greenock Juniors are sponsored by Regents Vehicle Sales, Greenock, Kingsley Wood Solicitors and Notaries, and the Lighthouse Bar.

This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 02 Aug 10

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