Craig Telfer of the website Tell Him He's Pele will be contributing a monthly blog to the SPFL website, focusing on events outside the Premiership.
In his first piece, Craig analyses some of the last-minute transfer activity across the Championship, League 1 and League 2.
The Scottish equivalent of transfer deadline day might lack the lustre and the bluster of its English counterpart, but that doesn’t mean it is any less intriguing.
Sure, Sky Sports might have not have stationed a gang of reporters at Borough Briggs, Links Park or Galabank and Jim Duffy might not have rolled down his car window to deliver an impromptu interview outside Morton’s training complex but there were just about enough movements across the lower leagues to hold a passing interest.
Rangers were the country’s most active club yesterday, with Ally McCoist sanctioning the departure of seven players on loan.
Calum Gallagher’s temporary transfer to Cowdenbeath is an interesting case. The forward was loaned out to East Stirlingshire between December and January last term, scoring twice in four matches and generally made a nuisance of himself for John Coughlin’s side.
The manager was keen to extend his loan agreement until the end of the season but McCoist introduced the player into the Rangers first team. Gallagher made a handful of quietly impressive performances and represents a fine piece of business for Jimmy Nicholl’s side. Gallagher is a rangy, bustling attacker capable of playing through the middle or on the right flank and should bolster Cowden’s offensive options. Expect him to link well with Sean Higgins.
Barrie McKay has found opportunities limited since his rise to prominence in 2012-13 but can re-establish himself over the next six months at Raith Rovers. His spell on loan at Morton last term was a little disappointing but, when on form, he can be a devastating presence on the wing and should make up for Joe Cardle’s summer departure.
While Gallagher and McKay have been loaned to Championship clubs, the rest have been moved to sides in League 1 and League 2. Robbie Crawford is a cute, if a little slight, ball player and should provide a different dimension to Morton’s midfield, although a winger would have been a welcome addition.
Centre-backs Luca Gasparotto and Craig Halkett have impressed in Gordon Durie’s U20 squad and have joined Airdrieonians and Clyde respectively – both are sound recruits. Danny Stoney has joined Stranraer while Tom Walsh will add cover to Stenhousemuir’s midfield.
Elsewhere in the Championship, Joe Shaughnessy should add solidity to Falkirk’s right-back position after joining on loan from Aberdeen and Kyle Benedictus will be a very handy signing for Alloa Athletic. The centre-back has worked well with Barry Smith in the past and should assimilate well into a hardy defensive unit alongside Ben Gordon, Daryll Meggatt and Mark Docherty. In fact, that Alloa backline might be the best at part-time level in the country.
In the third tier, Airdrie and Stenhousemuir have strengthened their attack with Bryan Prunty and Gary Oliver. Prunty returns to the Excelsior Stadium after leaving in 2005 and will be a muscular presence in attack.
Given his quality, it was a little surprising to see him leave Dumbarton so soon into the new season but with Chris Kane joining from St Johnstone for a second loan spell, his opportunities were always likely to be limited.
Oliver, meanwhile, was perhaps expected to cement his place with Heart of Midlothian this year but should make an impression at Ochilview. A brash young forward, he will add pace and drive.
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