July 15th 2024
JASON Morganti became Nairn County's latest sign as he agreed a deal to the end of the season. The attacking midfield player – who will wear the number 16 shirt – made his debut off the bench at Fraserburgh yesterday and moves to Station Park from Nairn St Ninian. The 30-year-old had rejoined St Ninian for pre-season training and even scored against County in the Bridgemill Direct Challenge Match in the summer. But once the call came to cross the railway line, it is too good to turn down. Morganti said: "It is a great opportunity for me to play at a higher level. I thought it was time to step up and test myself in the Highland League and hopefully I can help Nairn out." "I was approached by a few of the players who were here to see if I was interested in coming along to training. I spoke to Ronnie Sharp the manager and I thought it was just time to step up to this level and give it a go." "I am looking forward to playing alongside boys I have known for years and played alongside when I was growing up, like Wayne Mackintosh, Glenn Main, Paul Macleod and Calum Riddell. I know Ronnie from playing under him at St Ninian and I know guys behind the scenes really well like Graeme Macleod and Stuart Finnie." Morganti won the St Ninian Player of the Year award last season after a stellar season playing in attack for Mike Hendry's team. That capped a lengthy spell at the Showfield for the player who came through the youth ranks at Nairn County but left a dozen years ago when he joined the Marines. He added: "I am 30 years old now, so it might have been my last chance to have a go at playing at this level, so I could not turn it down." "Training has been good, although the pace at this level is a lot quicker than in the juniors, so I know I need to get myself fitter if I am going to do well." "I just want to try to get myself into a position where I am able to get in the team regularly and do well." Ronnie Sharp gave his newest signing a debut off the bench during yesterday's draw at Fraserburgh and is looking forward to see him in full flight once he adapts to playing at a higher level. The boss said: "Jason came into the team yesterday and was thrown in a bit on the right hand side of the attack. We had Jamie Mackay playing there but he felt his hamstring was a bit tight and needed to come off, which meant we had to put Jason straight in, even though he has been struggling a bit lately with an ankle injury." "We know what Jason can bring. He is a powerful player and he has done well for St Ninian over the last few seasons. He is a bit behind the rest of the squad in terms of his fitness because he has been injured but once he gets some more training and some more game time under his belt then I am sure he will prove to be a good addition to the squad." Graeme Macleod
