Scottish League Two ins and out - Summer 2015

Ferguson starts his second season as Clyde manager

Many had tipped Clyde as promotion favourites last season based on their appointment of Barry Ferguson as manager, but the former Rangers midfielder has had to return to the drawing board after failing to even reach the play-offs.

The former Blackpool boss has been ruthless with a squad that even flirted with bottom spot and appears to be placing his faith this time on players with recent experience of the Scottish Championship.

Fellow former Scotland international Gary Naysmith has had a similar clear-out of an East Fife squad that also under-performed by finishing fourth in the table, although they did pick up in time to reach the play-off final, where they lost to Stenhousemuir.

Defender Julen Etxabeguren Leanizbarrutia and goalkeeper Alan Martin have made the biggest jump up the ranks during the close season.

Former Real Sociedad 24-year-old Leanizbarrutia has left East Fife to sign for Dundee, while Martin has left Clyde for Hamilton Academical.

Annan Athletic and East Stirlingshire have had their annual mass cull of their squads, with Berwick Rangers the most active in adding to their numbers.

Annan Athletic

Key signing: Jordan Hart spent the second half of last season on loan from Celtic and the 19-year-old goalkeeper has now made the move from the Scottish champions permanent.

Intriguing arrival: Having started his career with Partick Thistle, versatile 24-year-old Nigeria-born Smart Osadolor headed to Tiffin University in Ohio after spells with junior outfits Irvine Vics and St Anthony's, but the left-side player returns to Scotland after his scholarship.

One that got away: Former Rangers youth defender Andrew Mitchell returned to Annan on loan from Southport in February, but the 23-year-old has now moved to Crusaders in his native Northern Ireland.

In: Jordan Hart, goalkeeper (Celtic); Blair Currie, goalkeeper (Hamilton Academical); Jamie Watson, forward (Airdrieonians); Smart Osadolor, midfielder (Tiffin University Athletics).

Out: Kieran Brannan, forward (Kilbirnie Ladeside); Chris Dickinson, forward (West Auckland); Alex Mitchell, goalkeeper; Iain Chisholm, defender; Kenny MacKay, forward; Steven Logan, midfielder; Callum Cook, midfielder; Michael McAnespie, defender; Craig Murray, goalkeeper; Danny Graham, midfielder; Dion Irving, defender; Benjamin Wagner, forward. Loan ended: Junior Ogen, forward (Rangers); Andrew Mitchell, midfielder (Southport); Calum Cook, midfielder (Dumbarton).

Last season: 5th

Prediction: 2nd. Having knocked Airdrieonians out of the Petrofac Training Cup then came close to ousting Queen of the South in the League Cup, Jim Chapman's side look to have the basis for a promotion challenge this season.

Arbroath

Key signing: Arbroath have high hopes for Kane Hester, a 20-year-old striker signed from junior club Arbroath Vics after scoring four goals in three pre-season games.

Intriguing arrival: Midfielder Sergio Cecilia Alvarez, previously of Atletico Victoria of Tenerife in the fourth tier of Spanish football, won a contract after the 25-year-old impressed on trial.

One that got away: Simon Murray ended the season with 24 goals, the 23-year-old striker having ended the season on loan to the Red Lichties after being loaned back following a £50,000 January transfer to Dundee United.

In: Sergio Cecilia Alvarez, midfielder (Atletico Victoria); Jamie Reid, midfielder (Dundee); Calum Brodie, goalkeeper (Dundee); Andrew Munro, defender (Raith Rovers); Martin Grehan, forward (Stenhousemuir); Allan Fleming, goalkeeper (East Fife); David Gold, midfielder (Berwick Rangers); Jamie Clarke, midfielder (Broughty Athletic); Graham Hay, defender (Formartine United); Craig Wilson, defender (Linlithgow Rose); Kane Hester, forward (Arbroath Vics). Loan: Darren Ramsay, defender (Rangers); Andy Ryan, striker (Hamilton Academical); Craig Watson, defender (Hamilton Academical).

Out: David Crawford, goalkeeper (Alloa Athletic); Kevin Buchan, forward (Brechin City); Scott McBride, midfielder (Albion Rovers); Kevin Nicoll, midfielder (Forfar Athletic); Jonathan Lindsay, defender (Cumnock); Lewis Coult, forward; Paul McManus, forward; Adam Hunter, midfielder; Jack Smith, forward; Lenny Wilson, goalkeeper. Loan ended: Simon Murray, forward (Dundee United); Dylan Carreiro, midfielder (Dundee); Marc McCallum, goalkeeper (Dundee United); Ryan McGeever, defender (Falkirk); Liam Rowan, defender (Falkirk); Thomas Grant, midfielder (Falkirk); Liam Gordon, defender (Hearts).

Last season: 3rd

Prediction: 6th. Todd Lumsden's side fell away at the end of the season after looking like likely champions and might struggle without Simon Murray's goal threat.

Berwick Rangers

Key signing: Michael McKenna made 12 starts last season for Livingston in the Championship after leaving Musselburgh Athletic and the 24-year-old winger will be looking to establish himself as a first-team regular at Shielfield Park.

Intriguing arrival: Dwayne Coultress joined St Johnstone from Aldershot Town in 2013 but most recently was playing for Highmoor Ibis in the Hellenic Football League Premier Division in the south of England. He then spent the last five months of last season training with Maidenhead United but without a contract.

One that got away: Paul Willis' nine goals from midfield last season earned the 23-year-old former Dunfermline Athletic man a move to promoted Albion Rovers.

In: Michael McKenna, midfielder (Livingston); Kevin Walker, goalkeeper (Livingston); Barry Hogg, midfielder (Hearts); Ewan McNeil, defender (Brechin City); Robert Wilson, defender (Airdrieonians); Finn Graham, midfielder (Dunfermline Athletic); Ross Graham, defender (Montrose); David Banjo, midfielder (Montrose); Graeme Beveridge, midfielder (Elgin City); David Morris, midfielder (Dalkeith Thistle); Charlie Denton, midfielder (Kirkcaldy YM); Mark Walters, goalkeeper (Coldstream); Kieran Ainslie, defender (Coldstream); Calum Helm, forward (Hutchison Vale Juveniles); Dwayne Coultress, midfielder (Unattached).

Out: Paul Willis, midfielder (Albion Rovers); Michael Andrews, goalkeeper (Cowdenbeath); David Gold, midfielder (Arbroath); Ross Gray, midfielder; Ben Miller, midfielder; Scott Maxwell, midfielder. Loan ended: Kyle Wilkie, midfielder (Nairn County).

Last season: 8th

Prediction: 3rd. Former Scotland midfielder Colin Cameron has added significantly to a squad that had a disappointing finish last season.

Clyde

Key signing: Former Dundee youth John Gibson finished the season as first choice with Alloa Athletic in the Championship, but the 26-year-old goalkeeper was released by manager Danny Lennon.

Intriguing arrival: Former Motherwell youth David Gormley scored more than 50 goals in three seasons for Scottish Junior Cup winners Auchinleck Talbot and returns to the senior game at the age of 27.

One that got away: Former Leeds United and Crewe Alexandra goalkeeper Alan Martin impressed enough in his first season with Clyde to win a move to the Premiership with Hamilton Academical.

In: John Gibson, goalkeeper (Alloa Athletic); Scott Linton, midfielder (Dumbarton); Archie Campbell, forward (Dumbarton); Sean Higgins, forward (Cowdenbeath); Chris Mitchell, midfielder (Queen of the South); Chris Smith, defender (Stirling Albion); Michael Bolochoweckyj, defender (East Stirlingshire); Steve Brisbane, midfielder (East Stirlingshire); David Gormley, forward (Auchinleck Talbot).

Out: Alan Martin, goalkeeper (Hamilton Academical); Steven McDougall, midfielder (Scarborough Athletic Toronto); Jamie Barclay, goalkeeper (Stenhousemuir); Scott McManus, forward (Queen's Park); Craig McLeish, midfielder (Queen's Park); Keigan Parker, forward (Shettleston); Michael Daly, forward (Petershill); Ryan Frances, defender (Shettleston); Fraser McGhee, defender (Petershill); Kevin Watt, forward (Kirkintilloch Rob Roy); David Gray, defender (BSC Glasgow); Paul Slane, midfielder; Iain Gray, defender; Stephen O'Donnell, midfielder; Ged Traynor, defender.

Last season: 6th

Prediction: 4th. Barry Ferguson's side flirted with bottom place last season and the former Scotland midfielder has bolstered his side with players who have second-tier experience.

East Fife

Key signing: Craig Murray ended the season making 14 appearances on loan to Ayr United from Aberdeen in League One before the 21-year-old midfielder's release by the Scottish Premiership club.

Intriguing arrival: After a soccer scholarship in the United States, Craig Sutherland played for Blackpool, Plymouth Argyle and Woking before returning to Scotland for a short spell with Queen's Park then winning a move to the second tier with Cowdenbeath. But the 26-year-old midfielder was released after spending the end of the last season with Stenhousemuir in League One.

One that got away: Once of Real Sociedad's second string, Julen Etxabeguren Leanizbarrutia moved to Scotland to study electronic engineering and reignited his football career by joining the Fifers and winning a move to the Premiership with Dundee after his first season.

In: Craig Murray, defender (Aberdeen); Pat Slattery, midfielder (Queen of the South); Mikey Couser, goalkeeper (Alloa Athletic); Jonathan Page, defender (Dunfermline Athletic); Ryan Goodfellow, goalkeeper (Dunfermline Athletic); Scott Mercer, defender (Dunfermline Athletic); Declan O'Kane, midfielder (Dunfermline Athletic); Craig Sutherland, forward (Stenhousemuir); Graeme MacGregor, defender (East Stirlingshire); Kyle Wilkie, midfielder (Nairn County). Loan: Jason Kerr, defender (St Johnstone).

Out: Julen Etxabeguren Leanizbarrutia, defender (Dundee); Caolan McAleer, forward (Airdrieonians); Jon McShane, forward (Stenhousemuir); Alan Cook, midfielder (Stenhousemuir); Allan Fleming, goalkeeper (Arbroath); Sean Dickson, midfielder (Stirling Albion); Lewis Barr, midfielder (Penicuik Athletic); Daryl Falconer, forward (Glenrothes); Jamie Beaton, midfielder (Preston Athletic); Derek Riordan, forward; David Maskrey, forward; Scott Smith, defender; Dylan Honeyman, midfielder. Loan ended: Ola Adeyemo, forward (Dundee United).

Last season: 4th

Prediction: 1st. Former Scotland full-back Gary Naysmith will hope to build on a fine run at the end of last season that just fell short of promotion in the play-offs.

East Stirlingshire

Key signing: Having started his career with Raith Rovers, Reece Donaldson was a regular in Peterhead's starting line-up last season in League One, but the 21-year-old defender was released this summer.

Intriguing arrival: Kris Faulds made his Falkirk debut aged 17, but the 21-year-old midfielder was released after a season in Stenhousemuir's first team in League One.

One that got away: Graeme MacGregor started his career with Bolton Wanderers and had spells with Hamilton and St Mirren before two years with Shire. However, the 22-year-old has switched to League Two rivals East Fife.

In: Reece Donaldson, defender (Peterhead); Kristopher Faulds, midfielder (Peterhead); Darren Dolan, goalkeeper (Sauchie). Loan: Alistair Roy, forward (Hearts); Jonny Court, forward (Raith Rovers).

Out: Michael Bolochoweckyj, defender (Clyde); Graeme MacGregor, defender (East Fife); Steve Brisbane, midfielder (Clyde); David Greenhill, midfielder (Spartans); Martyn Shields, midfielder (Petershill); Sean Quinn, goalkeeper; Jay Doyle, forward. Loan ended: Luke Donnelly, midfielder (Celtic); Kevin Nisbet, forward (Partick Thistle); David Bates, defender (Raith Rovers). Loan: Alan Deans, defender (Dunipace Juniors); Andy McNee, forward (Cumbernauld United).

Last season: 9th

Prediction: 10th. Craig Tully's side struggled at the end of last season and he has lost some experienced campaigners during the summer.

Elgin City

Key signing: Marc McKenzie helped Albion Rovers win the League Two title last season, but the 30-year-old defender has moved to Elgin after his second spell in Coatbridge ended.

Intriguing arrival: Elgin have taken three teenagers on loan from manager Premiership outfit St Johnstone - goalkeeper Mark Hurst, defender Liam Gordon and forward George Hunter - one of manager Jim Weir's former clubs.

One that got away: Shane Sutherland's 27 goals in the last two seasons with Elgin City has earned the 24-year-old former Inverness Caledonian Thistle striker a move up a division to Peterhead.

In: Marc McKenzie, forward (Albion Rovers). Loan: Connor McLaren, midfielder (St Johnstone); Mark Hurst, goalkeeper (St Johnstone); Liam Gordon, defender (St Johnstone); George Hunter, forward (St Johnstone); Kyle Macleod, forward (Ross County); Connor McLaren, midfielder (St Johnstone).

Out: Shane Sutherland, forward (Peterhead); Graeme Beveridge, midfielder (Berwick Rangers); Dennis Wyness, forward (Buckie Thistle); Ally McKenzie, midfielder (Turriff United); Gordon Finlayson, defender (Forres Mechanics). Loan ended: Jamie Reid, midfielder (Dundee); Ross Laidlaw, goalkeeper (Raith Rovers).

Last season: 7th

Prediction: 8th. Jim Weir has not added significantly to his squad this summer.

Montrose

Key signing: Forward Ryan Ferguson has dropped down a division after spells with Dunfermline Athletic and Brechin City, the 21-year-old making 24 starts for the Glebe Park outfit last season.

Intriguing arrival: Dale Reid was previously released by Montrose, but the 22-year-old striker has earned a return to Links Park after scoring 46 goals in two seasons for East Region Premier League junior side Montrose Roselea.

One that got away: Veteran defender Marvin Andrews helped Montrose retain their League Two status, scoring in the play-off win over Highland League champions Brora Rangers, but it could have been the former Trinidad and Tobago international's swansong at 39.

In: Greg Pascazio, defender (Rangers); Greg Cameron, midfielder (Brechin City); Andrew Steeves, midfielder (Forfar Athletic); Ryan Ferguson, midfielder (Brechin City); Ross Salmon, goalkeeper (Buckie Thistle); Gary Fraser, forward (Jeanfield Swifts); Ryan Kenneth, defender (St James); Jordan Reoch, defender (Montrose Roselea); Dale Reid, forward (Montrose Roselea); Adam McWilliam, midfielder (Laurencekirk). Loan: Matty Allan, defender (Dundee); Jordan Millar, goalkeeper (St Johnstone); Gavin Malin, midfielder (Forfar Athletic).

Out: Leighton McIntosh, forward (Peterhead); David Banjo, midfielder (Berwick Rangers); Ross Graham, defender (Berwick Rangers); Bryan Deasley, forward (Lochee United); Stuart McKenzie (Cove Rangers); Garry Wood (Formartine United); Ewan Moyes, defender (Bonnyrigg Rose); Jonathan Crawford, defender (Formartine United); Marvin Andrews, defender; Stephen O'Neill, midfielder; Jordan Allan, forward; Paul Harkins, midfielder; Danny Cavanagh, midfielder; John McCafferty, goalkeeper; Kieran Sturrock, forward; Craig Johnston, forward; Alan Campbell, defender; Stephen Day, midfielder.

Last season: 10th

Prediction: 9th. Paul Hegarty has had to plunder the junior ranks to add to a squad that flirted with an exit from the SPFL last season.

Queen's Park

Key signing: David Galt helped Blantyre Vics win the Central District First Division and reach two cup finals last season and the midfielder has moved from the junior ranks to the seniors.

Intriguing arrival: Cammy Marlow began his career with Ayr United, has played for Glenafton juniors. Now the 20-year-old midfielder has returned to Scotland after a second spell with LA Galaxy.

One that got away: Darren Miller's performances for the Spiders last season earned the 23-year-old midfielder a move to Championship outfit Dumbarton.

In: Cammy Marlow, midfielder (LA Galaxy); Ryan McGeever, defender (Falkirk); Scot McManus, forward (Clyde); Craig McLeish, midfielder (Clyde); David Galt, forward (Blantyre Vics); Joe Bradley, midfielder (Beith Juniors); Connor O'Boyle, goalkeeper (Harestanes Amateurs).

Out: Darren Miller, midfielder (Dumbarton); Kevin Fotheringham, forward (Bannockburn); Ross McPherson, forward (Irvine Meadow); Shaun Fraser, midfielder (Irvine Meadow); David MacGregor, defender; David McWilliams, defender; Blair Lochhead, goalkeeper; Bernard Coll, defender; Lee Davison, midfielder; Shaun Rooney, midfielder; Ross Gallacher, defender; Thomas Collins, forward. Loan ended: Jordan Moore, forward (Dundee United); Patrick Slattery, midfielder (Queen of the South).

Last season: 2nd

Prediction: 7th. Gus MacPherson's side stumbled at the end of the season as they challenged for the title and could struggle to emulate last term's highs.

Stirling Albion

Key signing: Former Scotland Under-21, St Mirren and Dunfermline Athletic goalkeeper Chris Smith moves down a division after the 29-year-old was released after Stenhousemuir flirted with relegation.

Intriguing arrival: Mark Staunton looked to be a prospect when Charlton Athletic paid £110,000 to Celtic for his services, but the 26-year-old had spent the last two seasons in the junior ranks with Irvine Meadow. And, after only three appearances for Stirling, he asked to be released from his contract following a red card against Clyde.

One that got away: Former Livingston, Hearts and Raith Rovers striker Gordon Smith has won a move up to the Championship with Dumbarton after scoring 10 goals as Stirling suffered relegation last season.

In: Craig Beattie, forward (Ayr United); Chris Smith, goalkeeper (Stenhousemuir); Ross McMillan, defender (Stenhousemuir); Ross Smith, defender (Peterhead); Sean Dickson, midfielder (East Fife). Loan: Kyle Lander, forward (St Johnstone).

Out: Greg Hurst, midfielder (St Johntone); Gordon Smith, forward (Dumbarton); David Weatherston, forward (Brechin City); Mark Ferry, midfielder (Albion Rovers); Lewis Coult, forward (Arbroath); Chris Smith, defender (Clyde); Jon Paul McGovern, midfielder; Mark Staunton, defender; Chris Paton, forward; Callum Reidford, goalkeeper; Graham Weir, midfielder; James Creaney, defender; Blair Munn, midfielder; Dale Fulton, defender. Loan ended: Scott Shepherd, forward (Falkirk).

Last season: 10th in League One (relegated)

Prediction: 5th. Stuart McLaren's side were well adrift at the foot of League One last season and could struggle to bounce straight back up.