Eight Queens players axed

May 15 2009 by Kieran Westbrook, Dumfries Standard Friday

A MASS-CULL has taken place at Palmerston with eight senior Queens players heading for the door.

Andy Aitken, Gary Arbuckle, Bryn Halliwell, Martyn Lancaster, Ryan McCann, Michael McGowan and Scott Robertson have all been told by Queens boss Gordon Chisholm they are surplus to requirements and will not have their contracts renewed.

And shot-stopper Lee Robinson will also be leaving the club – heading back to Rangers as his loan deal expires.

The cull means 10 senior players have played their last match in Queens colours, with Sean O’Connor and Stephen Dobbie having already left.

With over a third of his first team squad leaving, Chisholm knows he has a lot of work to do over the close season.

Chisholm said: “It wasn’t an enjoyable day on Monday, telling the boys they would be leaving.

“I’m working hard at it and have been for a number of weeks now.

“It’s going to be a very busy summer.

“It’s going to be difficult because a lot of the boys leaving are legends at the club, so it’s going to be hard.

“I can’t fault the effort of any of the lads, but I feel it’s time for a change of faces.

“All of the lads have worked hard and I can’t fault the effort, but at times this season I feel we have fallen short.

“I’ve got some players in mind and obviously I’ve got targets and that’s what I’ll be focusing on.”

But it was good news for Neil Macfarlane, Jamie McQuilken, Craig Reid, Neil Scally, Stevie Tosh and Barry Wilson.

Each had their contracts with the club extended.

l Meanwhile, Stephen Dobbie’s move to Swansea has been finalised after he passed a fitness test and signed for the club.

After signing Dobbie, Swansea City manager Roberto Martinez said: “We are delighted to have got him.

“We have been following Stephen for a long time and he fits Swansea City’s criteria.

“He is a great technical player, he is in the perfect moment of his career at 26 and he has the hunger and desire we want to bring into our dressing room.

“He left Rangers as a young player to join Hibernian for £300,000.

“At that time it seemed he wasn’t ready for that challenge, but now he is desperate to take his opportunity and to score goals at the highest level.

“I believe he has the ability to do that and that he will fulfil his Premier League potential with us.

“You can imagine there was a lot of interest.

“Stephen has scored 40 goals in the last two seasons and we are delighted to capture him on a free transfer.”

And Queens fans will be disappointed to have lost him.