As financial constraints force Premierleague and First Division clubs to cut back on staff, an increasing number of high-quality professionals are on the market, offering clubs in the lower reaches an unprecedented pool of players. Wilson describes it as “the waterfall effect” and the transfer activity in the Third Division certainly bears his theory out.
“What we are seeing is a growing number of good-quality professionals without clubs, who are having to downgrade their ambitions in response to a depressed market,” says Wilson. “Although the Third Division is part-time, that actually suits many of them because they want the security of having an alternative profession. Mark Perry, whom I signed midway through last season from Ross County, is one example. Another is Martin Bavidge, who has joined us this summer.
Although he was previously at Inverness Caledonian Thistle and scored 20-odd goals for Forfar in the Second Division last season, Martin is a realist and was happy to take a job with an oil company, rather than rely solely on what is an increasingly uncertain industry for his livelihood.” Bavidge is one of Wilson’s seven close-season signings, as he aims to improve upon the agony of losing out on promotion on the final day of last season. His other captures, including Duncan Stewart (Dunfermline), Graeme Stewart (Inverness) and Bob Duncan (Aberdeen), seem to back up his argument about talent trickling down. But the problem for Wilson is that other Third Division teams have been able to acquire similarly-impressive names.
Among them, Montrose have signed Scott Michie, who has played in the Aberdeen first-team, Albion Rovers have Mark Yardley and Gretna have brought in prolific St Mirren striker Martin Cameron and, from south of the border, David Holdsworth. As a result, Wilson believes the Third Division will be stronger than ever.
“Our record has been one of steady improvement,” said Wilson. “In our first season, we finished fifth with 49 points, two years ago we were fourth (56 points) and last year fourth again — but this time with 68 points. It was really tough to miss out on promotion last May — after a wonderful four-way tussle between ourselves, Morton, East Fife and Albion Rovers — particularly as Dumbarton had gone up the previous season with just 61 points. But it makes us even more determined this time around.”
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With all the comings and goings, Wilson argues it’s difficult to predict who will be battling it out with Peterhead for promotion. “At this stage, I know little about the two sides who came down from the Second Division, Stranraer and Cowdenbeath, but both will be eager to bounce back up,” he adds.
It promises to be an intriguing battle.