November 20th 2023
LIVELY forward Matty Macleod has rejected the offer of a new contract and departed the club. The 19-year-old was offered a new one-year deal but is now looking to move on to pastures new having been on loan to Inverness City for the second half of their league campaign. Manager Ronnie Sharp said: “We were looking for Matty to go in and play every game for the under-20s, get his confidence up, his enjoyment back for football and prove he is good enough for a place in the first team eleven. He has been in and around the squad for a few years now, so he knows what it is all about with the first team. We felt it would benefit him to concentrate on his football rather than gearing up for a Saturday then being disappointed if he was not used and having to immediately prepare for a game on the Monday night in the under-20s." “He is at an age where he needs to be playing all the time and he now sees that happening elsewhere with a fresh start, which is his decision and we respect that. He went on loan to Inverness City last season and played pretty much every game he was there and that is only one step below Highland League. I am sure he will be a valuable addition wherever he goes with his next move. I would like to thank him for his efforts and wish him all the best for the future on behalf of everyone at the club.” Macleod made his debut for Nairn on the opening day of the 2016/17 season in the home match against Brora Rangers when he appeared as a substitute. Just over a year prior to that, he had scored in a pre-season friendly over Spey Valley and then came off the bench in the friendly against Ross County which followed. He managed two substitute appearances last season, coming off the bench in the 3-0 home win over Deveronvale in August and the 1-1 draw at Wick Academy in December. He also played six times for the under-20s last season, scoring twice, prior to joining Inverness City on loan in March. Graeme Macleod
