November 20th 2023
NAIRN County have added former Clachnacuddin full back Ryan MacDonald to the squad. The 24-year-old has penned a deal until the end of season having done enough in training to earn a contract at Station Park. MacDonald featured against Inverness CT on Friday night as a trialist, shortly before agreeing terms. The defender has been training with the squad since the beginning of pre-season having knocked back the offer of a new deal at Clach. He also had the opportunity to move to another Highland League club but has rebuffed those overtures to become Ronnie Sharp's sixth capture of the summer. He said: "I am looking forward to the season starting and getting more game time. I missed a lot of last season through injuries, so I feel that a fresh start at a new club is the best option for me." "I have been lucky enough to play with a lot of the boys at the club before from when I was at Ross County as a youngster. That was a big influence and I have enjoyed the training as well. I am starting to feel fitter now, although it took me a wee while to get going but I am getting there now." MacDonald feels he will have no problem settling in to the squad with some of his new team mates already familiar to the defender. "I was at Ross County with Adam Porritt and Ross Naismith," he revealed. "I played with the two of them from about 10 years old until I left there. That is the two main ones but I also know both of the Dylans (Maclean and Mackenzie) from when they were at Clach." The full back is targeting a place in Ronnie Sharp's starting team with pre-season fixtures at Forfar Athletic, Nairn St Ninian and New Elgin left for him to force his way into the starting eleven. He added: "I want to get embedded in the squad as quickly as I can and get my fitness levels up over pre-season. From there, I then need to work hard and try to find a place in the first eleven." Manager Ronnie Sharp commented: "Ryan came on at right back on Friday night and did really well. He was playing pretty regularly for Clach when he was there, so it is ideal for us to bring him in." "It gives us more options as it allowed Adam Naismith to go into the middle of the park and bring a bit more experience in there and Jack Maclean to play further forward, where he is more suited." "Ryan gives us more versatility himself as he can play at left back as well as on the right side of the defence." "We intend to use our three remaining pre-season games to try different systems and see players in different positions, so we will learn what Ryan can do and have him ready for the start of the season along with the rest of the squad." Sharp has already added Adam Porritt, Adam Naismith, Ewen Urquhart, Max Ewan and Cohen Ramsay to his squad as he prepares for his second season charge. Graeme Macleod
