Six players depart Shielfield

Long-serving goalkeeper Sean Brennan heads a list of six players who will leave the club upon the expiration of their contracts on June 30.

Brennan, 23, joined the ‘Gers in June 2016 after exiting the youth set-up at Hibernian and established himself as the team’s No.1 towards the end of the 2017/18 season following an injury to on-loan stopper Robby McCrorie.

He remained No.1 for the bulk of the 2018/19 campaign and, last season, he battled it out with Mark Walters for the starting berth in the ‘Gers line-up.

Walters, 34, is also departing the club. The experienced keeper signed for the 2019/20 season in what was his second spell at the club, with him playing eight times in his other sole campaign at the club under Colin Cameron and John Coughlin in 2015/16.

Third-choice goalkeeper Ryan Kidd, midfielder Ali Smith and striker Yaw Osei are also set to leave Shielfield Park, whilst winger Gary Windram has agreed pre-contract terms with another club.

The departing players’ contracts were extended from May 31 to June 30 as a goodwill gesture from the club during the COVID-19 pandemic, although Ciaren Chalmers – who spent the second half of last season on loan at Dundonald Bluebell – didn’t take the club up on the month-long extension and left on May 31.

Speaking about the player departures, Chairman Brian Porteous said: “On behalf of the Board of Directors and the management team, I’d like to thank all of the departing players for their contributions to the club during the 2019/20 season and we wish them all the best in their future endeavours.”