Queens to open contract talks with young stars

Nov 30 2012 by Andrew Burns, Dumfries & Galloway Standard

Queens are set to open talks with a number of first team stars over contract extensions, manager Allan Johnston has revealed.

All but one of the Doonhamers squad are out of contract at the end of this season, with only defender Kevin Holt tied up until 2014.

For the last two summers, the Queens manager at the time has been left to build an entire squad from scratch as a result of contracts running down.

At the club’s annual general meeting this week, supporters raised concerns over the prospect of the Doonhamers’ young talents moving on for free.

Table topping Queens, who have attracted all sorts of positive attention for their league and cup exploits this season, would be entitled to compensation if any youth team graduate was snapped up on a Bosman deal.

But Johnston, who also touched on his own commitment to the club, believes that it would be in the best interest of his promising rookies to remain at Palmerston.

“The last thing I want to do is start from scratch again,” said the Queens player-boss.

“I don’t want to be looking for an entire new team come next summer.

“These young players are really talented and I believe it’s in their best interest to stay at the club.

“It benefits their career to be playing first team football rather than sitting on the bench at a bigger club.

“We have already started talking about it and hopefully we can get contracts tied up.

“But it’s a long process and it simply doesn’t happen overnight.”

On his own future, ex-Hearts and Sunderland player Johnston, who replaced Gus MacPherson in the Palmerston hot-seat in May, said: “I’m the same as the players – I’m a young manager and I am still learning.

“I feel that I’m constantly improving and it’s all still a learning curve for me.”

Operations director Mark Robertson added: “The players themselves also have to want to sign – it takes two to tango.

“We also have to find a balance because the income stops over the summer and if you have players all signed on then you must find that financial layout.

“It’s quite a burden on any club and the important thing is that we strike that balance.

“The manager is in talks with the chairman about this and hopefully we will have a further update soon.”