A club insider has confirmed that Stranraer are interested in signing three out of contract players. The players in question are Eric Paton, Euan Donaldson and David McNiven.

IN?

Twenty-three year old midfielder Eric Paton was released by Clydebank last week after playing 62 league matches for the Bankies and scoring 15 goals in the process. Previous teams have included Hibernian (where he was a trainee), Stenhousemuir (on loan) before signing for Partick Thistle during the summer of 1991. He is a midfielder who is not frightened to come forward for a shot at goal, and has demonstrated this against Stranraer in late September last season.

 

Another player Billy McLaren has expressed an interested in is defender Euan Donaldson. Last season the boss was keen to sign the player when he was freed by Stenhousemuir, but he decided to move to Forfar Athletic as the training sessions in Kilmarnock would have meant that he had to travel too far from his home on the east coast. Previous clubs have included St. Johnstone, Clyde, Albion Rovers, Stenhousemuir and Forfar Athletic.

 

The third player which the manger is actively pursuing is striker David McNiven. The 23 year-old scored six league goals last season in 26 matches, including a brace against Stranraer in March. McNiven was born in Leeds (but we won't hold that against him!) and started his career off at Oldham Athletic as a trainee. He has also played for Vasaland, Scarborough, Southport, York and Chester, before joining the Accies in October.

OUT!

As we reported here last week, Billy Macdonald has been freed by the club. Terry Christie, manager of newly promoted Alloa Athletic wasted little time in signing the former Stranraer captain. Macdonald had been in London a few weeks ago for a trail with Queens Park Rangers, but Christie snapped him up at the weekend. The Alloa manager is quoted in the Daily Record as saying: "He is one of the better midfield players available in Scotland.

"It is an are we need to strengthen and so I am delighted to get him."