Rae wants goal scorers

Jun 10 2009 by Kieran Westbrook, Dumfries Standard Wednesday

QUEENS chairman Davie Rae is looking for his manager to bring goal scorers to Palmerston.

Following top scorer Stephen Dobbie’s move to Championship side Swansea, Rae believes finding players who can put the ball in the net will be critical for next season.

Rae said: “Obviously a number of players have left, but a lot have re-signed too.

“We’ve also brought in three more players, a goalkeeper and two attacking players.

“And we need players coming in who can get goals for us.

“With Sean O’Connor and Dobbie leaving, we need to find players who can score goals.”

Former St Johnstone target man Derek Holmes and 22-year-old Rocco Quinn are two attack-minded signings Queens boss Gordon Chisholm has made since the end of the season.

And Rae is hopeful both will do the business in front of goal.

“Quinn looks a talented lad. He’s only 22, but he’s fast and he likes to get forward, and hopefully he’ll get a few goals for us.

“That’s what we really need – some more players who can chip in with the goals. We need goals.

“And Holmes, he’s a big strong player and hopefully he’ll score with his head as well as his feet.”

Rae believes that this is the week that the available players start coming out of the woodwork.

But while Chisholm is thousands of miles away, in Las Vegas, neither are looking to gamble on just anyone.

Rae added: “Gordon and I are in close contact and if a player we like comes forward, we will act.

“This is the time when the players looking to move start coming forward.

“We’re definitely looking at bringing in a few more players, but it’s all about making quality signings.“

l Neil MacFarlane (pictured) became the 10th Queens man to leave the club since the season ended – signing for Morton at the weekend.

MacFarlane had been swithering on whether to sign an extension to his contract, which was offered to him last month.

He now leaves Palmerston after a two-year spell with the club, and while Rae admitted he’ll be sad to see the holding midfielder go, he was pleased that so many others have decided to stay.

“Neil’s been a good player for us, there’s no doubt about that.

“He’s a solid type of player, but he’s heading off to Morton, and good luck to him.

“He’s chosen not to stay, but five others extended their contracts with the club, which isn’t bad going.”