Queen's Park eye up triple signing as boss Gardner Speirs looks to the future

May 22 2012 By Fraser Wilson

Gardner Speirs

QUEEN'S PARK boss Gardner Speirs has approached three experienced players as he looks to bolster his squad for another promotion push next season.

Speirs, frustrated by his young side's collapse in last week's play-off semi final against Stranraer, already has 17 players already signed up for the new campaign.

But, with the dust just beginning to settle on the 2011/12 campaign, Speirs knows there's more work to be done in building a side capable of getting out of next year's ultra-competitive bottom tier.

Goalscoring midfielder Michael Keenan has joined the Spiders from junior club Arthurlie and Speirs has promoted three youngsters from the club's flourishing youth system.

But after losing highly-rated full back Daryll Meggatt to Alloa and influential midfielder Martin McBride, who has quit for work commitments, the Spiders manager reckons he is still short in defence and midfield.

Strikers Michael Daly and David Murray and midfielders Steven Baillie and Gavin Lachlan have also moved on while question marks hang over skipper Ricky Little's future.

Speirs said: "We have made contact with a few players and, as always at this time of the season, we are just waiting to hear back from them.

"We could do with a couple of defenders and another midfield player but if the opportunity arose to improve the quality in any area of the park then we would look to do that.

"We have also promoted three players from the youth squad in Scott Gibson (defender), Kieran Kennedy (striker) and Lawrence Shankland (striker) and we're confident these boys are ready to make the step up.

"Time will tell if they can kick on in the first team but they will be given every opportunity."

Speirs already has the foundations of his side in place and has secured the services of key men including goalkeeper Neil Parry, defenders James Brough and Paul Gallacher, midfielders Tony Quinn, Davie Anderson and Ian Watt and top scorer Jamie Longworth.

The Spiders report back for pre-seaosn on June 25 and have fixed up friendlies against Airdrie United on July 7 and Brechin City on July 17.

• Meanwhile, Queen's have agreed a deal with Glasgow company CBC to be the main contractors for the new Legacy Pavilion at Lesser Hampden.

The new building will host the club's headquarters and their vibrant Youth Department at Lesser Hampden.

Club president Alan Hutchsion said: "We have agreed a funding agreement that will see the contractors on site in a matter of weeks with the work expected to be completed in spring 2013."