Montrose manager George Shields says his wheeling and dealing in the transfer market this week has all been aimed at getting his Gable Endies back into promotion contention.
It’s been all change at Links Park ahead of today’s game against Annan as Shields has signed an incredible five players to bolster his squad, adding to the capture of David Banjo and Marvin Andrews earlier in the transfer window.
Central defender Ewan Moyes and striker Ross Campbell have both made the switch from League Two rivals East Fife, midfielder Greg Cameron has signed on loan from Brechin until the end of the season, former Dundee United midfielder Jordan Allan has signed from Morton, and ex-Hamilton striker Craig Johnstone has also joined the ranks of new faces at Montrose.
Johnstone was released by Accies last summer and has been most recently playing with Sauchie in the junior ranks, but Shields reckons he could well do a job for his men.
“I think what we’ve done is add more quality to the team and the end result for us is all about trying to get into that top four,” Shields told Courier Sport.
“We’re 10 points behind Annan who are there at the minute, and getting to fourth spot has to be our main aim now.
“The committee at the club have been great in helping us get these lads on board they could have quite easily decided to sack me or bring someone else in but they realise what’s been going on.
“It’s not as if we’ve been playing badly, and we’ve ended up losing games by conceding silly goals.”
Last week’s 4-3 defeat at home to high-flying Albion Rovers was a case in point, according to Shields.
“It was one of those games where we probably should have settled for a point,” he continued.
“We ended up trying to go for the game and maybe got a bit too excited trying to get all three points and we were punished late on.
“If I’m being honest though, picking up a point here and there isn’t good enough for us now we’ve got to try and take three points from every game.”
Most of Montrose’s new players are likely to feature in today’s squad apart from Campbell and Johnstone, who have outstanding suspensions they have to serve.