Scottish League One ins and outs - January 2016

Brad McKay (left) has joined Dunfermline on loan from St Johnstone

Dunfermline Athletic's rivals must have watched with envy as the Scottish League One rivals strengthened their ranks with two defenders with top-flight experience.

The full-time club added Brad McKay, on loan from St Johnstone, and Craig Reid, released by Motherwell.

At least second-top Ayr United managed to hold on to influential midfielder Ryan Stevenson, who was allowed to leave Partick Thistle after a spell on loan at Somerset Park.

Fourth-top Airdrieonians, under new head coach Eddie Wolecki Black, and relegation-troubled Cowdenbeath have experienced the busiest turnover during January.

Airdrieonians manager Eddie Wolecki Black has been reshaping his squad

Wolecki Black, looking to repeat his success with the Glasgow City women's team, has reshaped the squad inherited from Forfar Athletic-bound Gary Bollan, with former Livingston midfielders Jacob Esposito and Hugo Faria notable arrivals.

They will be chased for a promotion spot by a Stranraer side bolstered by the return of wing talisman Willie Gibson from Dumbarton.

Stenhousemuir's promotion hopes will not have been helped by midfielder Harry Monaghan accepting a full-time move to Derry City and striker Jon McShane's exit to Australian club Hume City.

Airdrieonians

In: Jacob Esposito, midfielder (Maccabi Hakoah); Hugo Faria, midfielder (Livingston); Kieran MacDonald, defender (East Fife). Loan: Dylan Mackin, forward (Motherwell); David Ferguson, defender (Motherwell).

Out: David van Zanten, defender (retired); Reece Glackin, midfielder (Clyde). Loan ended: Nicolas Sumsky, midfielder (Hamilton Academical); Scott Smith, midfielder (Dundee United); George Hunter, forward (St Johnstone). Loan: Jordan Morton, midfielder (Annan Athletic); Caolan McAleer, midfielder (Kilbirnie Ladeside)

Albion Rovers

In: Loan: Spas Georgiev, midfielder (Livingston); Darren Petrie, midfielder (Raith Rovers).

Out: Josh Mullin, midfielder (Livingston, undisclosed); John Gemmell, forward (Clyde).

Ayr United

In: Ryan Stevenson, midfielder (Partick Thistle).

Out: Ross Caldwell, forward (Cowdenbeath); Paul Slane, midfielder (Clyde); Martyn Campbell, defender.

Brechin City

In: Loan: Scott Shepherd, forward (Falkirk); Lewis Spence, midfielder (Dunfermline Athletic).

Out: Dene Shields, forward. Loan ended: Isaac Layne, forward (Alloa Athletic).

Cowdenbeath

In: Grant Adam, goalkeeper (Greenock Morton); Ross Caldwell, forward (Ayr United); Alin Roman, goalkeeper (Heriot Watt University). Loan: Declan McDaid, midfielder (Partick Thistle); Kieran Gibbons, midfielder (Livingston)

Out: Luke Armstrong, forward. Loan ended: Andy Murdoch, midfielder (Rangers).

Dunfermline Athletic

In: Craig Reid, defender (Motherwell); Evan Horne, midfielder (Dundee United). Loan: Brad McKay, defender (St Johnstone).

Out: Mickael Antoine-Curier, forward; Marc McAusland, defender. Loan: Lewis Spence, midfielder (Brechin City)

Forfar Athletic

In: Andy Ryan, forward (Hamilton Academical); Gareth Rodger, defender (St Johnstone); Steven Craig, forward (Dumbarton). Loan: Euan Spark, defender (Dundee United)

Out: Chris Templeman, forward (Montrose); Kevin Nicholl, defender (Annan Athletic).

Peterhead

In: Loan: Ally Gilchrist, forward (St Johnstone)

Out: Loan: Scott Ferries, midfielder (East Stirlingshire); Scott Adams, midfielder (Buckie Thistle); Ryan Baptie, defender (Linlithgow Rose).

Stenhousemuir

In: Loan: Colin McCabe, goalkeeper (Celtic); Graham Bowman, goalkeeper (Falkirk).

Out: Harry Monaghan, midfielder (Derry City); Jon McShane, forward (Hume City). Loan ended: Matthew Gould, goalkeeper (Livingston).

Stranraer

In: Willie Gibson, midfielder (Dumbarton); Loan: Cameron Belford, goalkeeper (Wrexham).

Out: Luciano Nequecaur, forward; Jamie McCluskey, midfielder; Liam Rowan, defender. Loan: Peter McGill, midfielder (Troon).