BRAND IN LINE FOR PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Club captain, Andrew Brand, is one of four players nominated for this season's SPFA Third Division Player of the Year.

Andrew was in the top four when the votes were counted along with Montrose striker John Baird, East Fife defender Jon Smart and Elgin City winger Zander Sutherland.

"It is a great honour to be recognised by your fellow professionals," said the skipper after the announcement. "These are the people who see you at first hand and their views count more than in many other awards.

"It really does mean a lot to be included. People looking from the outside may raise an eyebrow when they see you are from a team at the bottom of the league, but the judgement of the people you play against is a fair reflection.

"Two years ago Jordan Smith was nominated when the team was far worse off than we are now."

Head Coach, Jim McInally, sees it as recognition for the club too.

"It shows people were noticing the club at the start of the season, when the club was doing really well.

"Even now he is still high up the goalscoring charts. It's good for Andrew and good for the club too."

The winner will be announced at a special gala awards dinner on 20th April.

The last Shire player to pick up the accolade of Third Division Player of the Year was Steve Hislop back in 2001.