It’s the start of pre-season training for the Brechin squad tonight but there will be one notable absentee as the players are put through their paces – boss Darren Dods.
The Glebe gaffer has finally decided to hang up his boots at the ripe old age of 43.
Dods was still registered as a player last season and put himself on the bench at the start of the campaign in the Betfred Cup as well as the Championship opener against Queen of the South.
Now, as the Angus side gear up for life back in League 1, the former Hibs, St Johnstone, Inverness, Dundee United, Falkirk and Forfar centre-half has decided to focus all his energies on management and the immediate aim of bolstering his squad.
Dods said: “It may sound like pre-season is starting really early but there is only a month until the Betfred Cup.
“We still have a lot of signing business to complete and we will be having a look at four trialists.
“They will be joining us for training and we will also try to organise some bounce games as we are now allowed to play trialists in the Betfred.
“So we hope to have most of the squad in place before that competition starts.
“There are still a lot of clubs like ourselves with places to fill with even the likes of big full-time sides like Dundee United looking to bring eight or nine in.
“Other players who were full-time and have been released will still be weighing up their options.”
Dods added: “I have also finally decided to hang up my boots.
“I will still play five a sides and in charity games but I will not be registering myself as a player this season.
“It is time to take a back seat from playing now.”
