I wasn't going to start this until the end of the season but I thought I would after I saw the article in the courier stating that Billy McKay may have a decision to make regarding his playing days come the end of the season.

We need to wait until the end of the season before we get any news on who's staying etc, especially when we don't even know what league we'll be playing in (hopefully it's still L1).

I also don't know who is still under contract as I don't really pay much attention to that, maybe I should 😁.

Anyway, we do already know that work is already starting on who to recruit as we have had trialists in plus the under 18s have been training with the first team squad this past fortnight.

It will also be interesting to see how big a rebuild we have ahead of next season, hopefully not too big as that would mean that the vast majority will have signed new deals.

Finally, this thread can be used to mention any rumours on who we could after but, again, we probably won't hear any until the end of the season.

The only player under contract for next season is Adam Mackinnon. It has been reported in the press that a few players have indicated they want to stay, but likely dependant on what league we are in, which as yet is still not certain. I imagine there will be quite a turnover of players with only the locally settled and younger players looking to stay regardless of league, perhaps????

Depends how admin works out. Let's assume it goes well. We've currently got a small squad, full-time, that's garnered (excluding penalty) enough points to be comfortably in the playoffs. I'm not sure there's many moving to the Championship and part-time probably doesn't appeal. So that leaves Cove and QoS, assuming one of them doesn't get promoted, and presumably Airdrie. Many of those will have a settled squad, so how many of ours will they need, and will they have significantly more money after we solve our financial problems?

I can certainly see a turnover but with an enhanced squad and no admin, I see ICT as a desirable place for many footballers. Can't see us losing many to Montrose or Stenny. I think we might be getting players from them.

Who we can and can't keep will depend firstly on being out of admin and secondly on which division we are in.

 

As stated, MacKinnon is the only player under contract.

 

Bavidge, Brannan, Bray, Ewan, Nolan and Stewart will finish their loans; I'm not sure any of them will be rushing back for another season in League One (let alone League Two)

 

Assuming Kellacher continues as manager, it seems possible - likely? - that Billy Mckay could continue as his assistant, which would seem like a good moment to hang up his boots. He'll be 37 in October.

 

I expect other clubs to be sniffing around Dibaga, Allan and Gilmour; holding on to some or all of them would be a pleasant surprise.

It's going to be a very different squad again next year, regardless of who we keep and who we add to it, in whatever division.

I suppose I'll just be happy the club will be there.

Might be sensible and prudent for Billy to remain as a player on the books for next season, despite his stepping up to support Kells with more involvement in the coaching and management side of things.