Nairn County manager relishing friendly with Premiership club St Johnstone on Friday
Ross Tokely is determined to further strengthen his revamped Nairn County squad but is delighted by rebuilding work ahead of St Johnstone’s visit on Friday.
Steven Mackay’s successor, who has hung up his boots at 45 to focus on his management, has so far brought in five new faces for the coming campaign.
Striking options have been greatly bolstered by the arrival of ex-Ross County goalscorer Matty Wright, the permanent capture of Ben Barron from Elgin City and the homecoming of 33-year-old Gary Kerr after more than six years at Rothes.
In midfield, ex-Rothes and Clach stalwart Alan Pollock was recruited, while young defender Jonathan Bain is another Tokely is happy to have on board.
More are likely to follow, but ahead of the visit of Craig Levein’s Premiership side Tokely admitted he was having to be patient.
“I’m happy with what I’ve done so far,” the Caley Thistle legend said.
“There is still a wee bit of work to be done in certain areas of the squad, but I’m in a bit of a waiting game on those at the moment.
“I definitely felt the need to strengthen up front. I don’t think we scored enough goals last year, but we also let in too many.
“We can improve at both ends, certainly with the quality I’ve taken in.
“We need to provide chances for the strikers and then it is just about trusting our forwards to hit the ground running.”
Nairn have been back training since June 8 and their new manager is more than happy with the graft they have put in.
“We’ve done nine good sessions, with the final one on Wednesday before the game on Friday,” he said.
“The boys have been working really hard and St Johnstone on Friday is a game we’re looking forward to.
“It is just about getting the guys game-time now and working on some of the ideas we have for the way we want to play this year.
“I’m not overly bothered about the results, but I’ve certainly lined up some good games that will provide us with a good test.
“I want us to be flexible in playing a number of formations. I have some good options, with us taking in some good strikers.
“It is just about how we make chances for them.
“We’ll keep it in-house, but we want to be a team that looks to be on the front foot playing attacking football, while also being clever defensively as well.”
St Johnstone clung on to top-flight status by the skin of their teeth last season, finishing above relegation play-off team Ross County on goal difference.
Tokely expects former Scotland manager Levein to be in an experimental mood with Friday’s 8pm kick-off followed swiftly by a 2pm KO for the next day’s friendly at Huntly.
“They will probably come north with a bigger squad, including some trialists. They also play the next day so I’m sure Craig Levein will want to split the squad and mix it up,” he stressed.
“It is a nice game for us to have on a Friday night and hopefully we can get a decent crowd along at Station Park, just like the well-attended games we had against Ross County and Caley Thistle last summer.
“It’s a chance for the fans to see the new guys in the team and, hopefully, we can give them a game. We want the game time behind us, but we also want to make sure we put on a decent show and really work our socks off in the game.”
Also Alan Pollock and Jonathan Bain.
“I like the fact Gary Kerr and Alan Pollock have good experience. I got them on frees and I feel the squad needed that.
“But I couldn’t care less if a player is 17 or 35 - or 45! - so long as they perform.
“It is about getting in players who want to play for me and play for the football club.
“The boys are certainly looking really sharp in training and have put a lot of hard work in. They want to get back to doing their training in games now.
“St Johnstone on Friday and Caley Thistle on Tuesday will certainly be good tests for us.”
Andrew Greig
“He has certainly missed a lot of football, this year and last, but he is a likeable lad with a lot of experience in this league.
“That’s what I spoke to him about - he is now one of the older ones, with that experience. We have a lot of young lads in the squad and just having him back in the squad for pre-season is a big boost for us.
“If he can get close to the form he showed previously, we’ll be delighted. He has taken part in all of pre-season and is looking like he really has the bit between his teeth.
“He’s delighted to be back and has missed playing. He could be a key player for us this year.”
