SIX years ago Barry Ferguson and Gary Naysmith were in the Scotland squad together.
Now they are managing two teams battling to win promotion out of the country’s basement division.
However, neither man is going to have it all his own way – not with some strong opposition in League Two this season.
Here’s a look at how League Two is likely to shape up.
ALBION ROVERS
Finished last season: 7th
Manager: Darren Young (in charge since June 2014)
Trivia: Albion Rovers haven’t won an away match since Saturday, September 21, 2013, when they beat East Stirlingshire 4-1. They did beat Motherwell at New Douglas Park in the Scottish Cup fourth round, but were the ‘home’ team.
Key players: Rovers have a small squad but they have some players who should stand out in League Two, including striker John Gemmell, winger Marc McKenzie and midfielders Scott Chaplain and Gary Fisher.
Analysis: Rovers will look back more fondly on last season’s cup exploits than their league form. After beating Motherwell, and then drawing with Rangers at Ibrox before losing the replay, they would have hoped for a better finish in League Two than they achieved. They have spent wisely, though, and their thoroughly commendable ‘Pay What You Can’ season ticket initiative should bring a few more fans through the turnstiles. It should be exciting times at Cliftonhill this season.
Verdict: 1st.
ANNAN ATHLETIC
Finished last season: 2nd (lost to Stirling Albion in play-off semi-final)
Manager: Jim Chapman (in charge since January 2013)
Trivia: There are now five former Dumbarton players operating under Chapman at Annan, all of them part of the Sons team which won the 2008/09 Third Division title. Iain Chisholm, Martin McNiff and Kieran Brannan were already at Galabank and have been joined in the close season by Derek Carcary and Ryan McStay.
Key players: Carcary and McStay are two players who should perform well in League Two. However, during Carcary’s time at Dumbarton, he was known not to be too keen on plastic pitches, which Annan have. Chapman has also been successful in retaining the services of last season’s top scorer Kenny Mackay.
Analysis: After finishing second last season, Annan should have no problem in achieving a top four finish again – but will that be enough to match Chapman’s ambition? His team must find the sort of consistency that Dumbarton had under his management to win the Third Division title in 2009. Much will depend on whether he can get the best out of Carcary on an all-weather pitch every other Saturday.
Verdict: 4th.
ARBROATH
Finished last season: 10th in Second Division (relegated)
Manager: Allan Moore (in charge since June 2014)
Trivia: Arbroath have been involved in the play-offs five times since they were introduced in 2005 – once to win promotion to the First Division, once to avoid relegation from the Second Division and three times to win promotion to the Second Division. However, they have only been successful once, winning promotion to the Second Division in 2008.
Key players: Keeper David Crawford is vastly experienced at this level while forwards Paul McManus and Bobby Linn should have plenty of goals in them.
Analysis: Arbroath had a disastrous season last time out and went through a spell where they won only once in 17 league outings. However, they have a manager who knows what it takes to win Scotland’s basement division, with Allan Moore back in football after being dismissed by Morton last year. They won’t be far away but questions may still be asked over their squad depth.
Verdict: 3rd.
BERWICK RANGERS
Finished last season: 5th
Manager: Colin Cameron (in charge since January 2014)
Trivia: Berwick finished last season strongly after Cameron’s appointment, winning nine of their 16 fixtures under his management. Of the five defeats they sustained, three of them were to the promoted duo of Peterhead and Stirling Albion.
Key players: The re-signing of midfielder Lee Currie, who was on trial at Hearts, will be a major boost to Berwick. Striker Andrew Russell, meanwhile, is a players whose ability is well-known to manager Cameron, with the two having worked together at Cowdenbeath.
Analysis: Not many of Berwick’s squad are household names in Scotland but their strong finish to last season, and Cameron’s know-how, may make them the surprise team of the division this year. The manager, though, may need to add more players of the calibre of those he worked with at Cowdenbeath in order for his team to fulfil its potential.
Verdict: 6th.
CLYDE
Finished last season: 4th (lost to East Fife in play-off semi-final)
Manager: Barry Ferguson (in charge since June 2014)
Trivia: Ferguson will be hoping for a better start than he had in caretaker charge of Blackpool last season – it took him until his ninth game for the Seasiders to register a victory. Craig Brown, who gave him his debut for Scotland, also started his managerial career at Clyde.
Key players: There’s no getting away from it – Clyde’s biggest signing of the close season was their manager. It remains to be seen whether Barry Ferguson will play, but the re-signing of his namesake, midfielder Scott, was a boost to the club. Stuart McColm is a known goalscorer at this level and Clyde also have David Gray – the man who has played for Dumbarton in two promotion-winning seasons.
Analysis: No matter how Clyde perform this season interest in them will be high, with Ferguson’s profile in Scottish football and his time in caretaker charge of Blackpool last season. It remains to be seen whether his ability as a player can match his ability as a manager, but Scotland midfielders of the 2000s are doing OK in management so far – Ian Murray, Paul Hartley etc. Having finished fourth last season, the base is there for Clyde to build on.
Verdict: 5th.
EAST FIFE
Finished last season: 9th in Second Division (lost to Stirling Albion in play-off final and were relegated)
Manager: Gary Naysmith (in charge since December 2013)
Trivia: This is the third time East Fife have been relegated into the Third Division. On both of the previous two occasions, it has taken them four years to move back up.
Key players: Two former Dumbarton strikers, Kevin Smith and Jon McShane, should score plenty goals at this level. Midfielder Allan Walker is another who has shown good ability higher up the leagues, while a third former Dumbarton player, Scott Smith, needs to take his chance in defence.
Analysis: It wasn’t so long ago that people were talking about East Fife potentially moving into the second tier of Scottish football. Now they are on the bottom rung again and although the title will be their aim, it’s not a given. East Fife must get into a strong position for the final few fixtures as they have a difficult run-in during April, facing Clyde, Albion Rovers, Annan Athletic and Berwick Rangers, with the only home match being against Rovers.
Verdict: 2nd.
EAST STIRLINGSHIRE
Finished last season: 8th
Manager: Craig Tully (in charge since June 2014)
Trivia: The Shire are the only team to have played in League Two since its inception as the Scottish Third Division in 1994. They last won promotion in 1980.
Key players: Defender Michael Bolochoweckyj is vastly experienced at lower league level while striker David McKenna, formerly of Stranraer and Brechin City, should be among the goals. The Shire are still finalising their squad, fielding several trialists over pre-season.
Analysis: John Coughlin has won promotion out of Scottish football’s bottom division twice, but even he couldn’t get East Stirlingshire out of the league in three attempts. Last season was a disappointment for the Shire and despite McKenna being a useful addition to the squad, it’s hard not to see more of the same this time around. A higher league finish than last season has to be the aim for Tully as he takes his first steps in management. However, their cup results (1-7 v Falkirk and 0-4 v Ayr United, both at home) do not offer much encouragement.
Verdict: 10th.
ELGIN CITY
Finished last season: 9th
Manager: Barry Wilson (in charge since January 2014)
Trivia: This season will be Elgin’s 15th attempt to win promotion out of League Two since they entered Scottish senior football in 2000. The closest they have come was when they reached the play-off semi-finals in 2012.
Key players: Striker Craig Gunn has been a regular goalscorer during his years at Borough Briggs while the top-flight experience of goalkeeper Michael Fraser will be valuable to Elgin this season. Striker Shane Sutherland is another one who has played at the highest level in Scotland.
Analysis: Another who spent most of last season at the wrong end of League Two and will be aiming to improve this time around. Wilson’s start in management, during the second half of last season, had its ups and downs but City need a good start. An end-of-season promotion/relegation play-off, possibly against Highland League opposition, might be good to bring the crowds in, but not necessarily for the club.
Verdict: 9th.
MONTROSE
Finished last season: 6th
Manager: George Shields (in charge since April 2014)
Trivia: Another team who are growing roots in the bottom division. This season marks 20 years since Montrose last won promotion, as Third Division runners-up to Forfar Athletic in season 1994/95.
Key players: Striker Garry Wood has found the net regularly during his years at Links Park, while long-serving duo Alan Campbell and Jonathan Crawford are set to renew their partnership again at the back. Ex-Aberdeen midfielder Stephen O’Neill is another who could do well at this level.
Analysis: This season is a step into the unknown for manager Shields, who was Montrose’s head of youth development before being appointed to succeed Stuart Garden at the end of last season. Montrose won their final two games of the campaign but it will take a huge effort to be part of the promotion picture. Ex-Scotland defender Lee Wilkie is Shields’ assistant at the club and if the two can link up well, they may be able to improve on last season’s finish.
Verdict: 7th.
QUEEN’S PARK
Finished last season: 10th
Manager: Gus MacPherson (in charge since January 2014)
Trivia: Starting the season playing home games at Airdrie as Hampden Park is being used for the Commonwealth Games. The Spiders did not win at Hampden at all last season before they vacated the ground in November for redevelopment work.
Key players: The Spiders’ pre-season signing activity has almost entirely revolved around the junior and amateur leagues. As Dumbarton know only too well, there is room for gems to be found at those levels. Former Clydebank striker Ross MacPherson is one of those who has signed, his Holm Park team-mates Vinnie Berry and Ciaran McElroy. All three, and others, could well make the step up, but they’ll need support from experienced players like Tony Quinn and David MacGregor.
Analysis: Queen’s Park will be glad to get this season underway, with a chance to exorcise the demons of a truly horrendous season last year which saw them play most of their ‘home’ matches several miles away in Airdrie. They will start the season at New Broomfield as well while Hampden is restored as a football stadium. The Spiders should do better this time around, with the experienced MacPherson having had a full pre-season to assemble a squad. However, a promotion push may be some time away.
Verdict: 8th.
The Dumbarton Terrace 