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  • Post published:25 June 2021

Three or four more new players could be in place before Stranraer kick off the competitive season, according to boss Jamie Hamill.

The new manager has been busy shaping his squad with Ruaridh Langan, Joe Moore, Sean McIntosh and Craig Ross all joining the club, alongside Paul Woods returning.

Hamill is not finished just yet though and anticipates there will be a couple of trialists involved when the team heads to Starks Park tomorrow (Saturday).

He said: “Hopefully, we will add another three or four more before the cup games start.

“I’m not going to push things though.

“We’ve got a younger squad but I am not really concerned about that.

“The younger players we have got, they have played at a good level or have a good background or grounding.

“The signing of Ruaridh, Joe and Craig – they are all going to bring a different playing quality on the pitch and they are good boys to have round about the training ground too.”

Hamill, who is also registered as a player, said they were still looking to strengthen the team both in attack and in defence.

He said it was up to any trialist to impress and if they did that then there could be a deal waiting for them.

It’s not only on the pitch that has been strengthened though.

Former Kilmarnock goalkeeping coach and Scotland international Billy Thomson has joined the club and will work alongside Greg Fleming and Jamie Walker.

Hamill and Thomson have known each other for “years and years” and the manager was quickly on the phone to the former UEFA Cup runner-up.

“I got in touch with him and had a conversation,” said Hamill.

“Within a day or two, he said it was something he would be keen to do and it is great to get him in and signed up.”

Stranraer travel to Raith Rovers tomorrow for the first time since November 2019, although they did play Kelty Hearts at the Fife ground in the Scottish Cup last year.

Mark Stewart scored for the Blues in a 3-1 defeat at Raith and Hamill was looking forward to the game.

He said: “Hopefully, we can impose ourselves in the game.

“We have worked on a few things in training and all the boys are fit and it is one we are looking forward to.”