A New Year can often be a time of reunions – and it’s no different for Stirling Albion new boy Ryan Shanley as the Binos hope to stabilise their season.
The former Hibs forward moved to Forthbank earlier this month after a season and a half at Falkirk, immediately linking back up with Stirling boss Alan Maybury, who guided him to a strong run at Edinburgh City.
The 24-year-old mined the richest goalscoring seam of his career during a pair of stints with the Citizens, netting 17 times in 71 matches and impressing as a lively forward in behind defences.
With playing time at the Premership-chasing Bairns limited, Shanley decided to cut his time there and assess his options, before finding himself thrust straight into the Stirling starting XI for the 2-0 defeat at Clyde.
Despite that disappointment, Shanley believes the expectations remain high for Stirling in securing a top-four place, but acknowledges that a run of just one win in their last nine League Two games.
Shanley said: “It’s been good getting in with the boys and working with them, I knew my time at Falkirk was up really and so I had a few conversations with clubs but knew the manager from my time at Edinburgh.
“There is a platform here for me to play a good amount and score the goals to get the club where it wants to be, so for me personally, it’s about having that impact.
“I was a bit sore on the Sunday/Monday last week [after the Clyde match]. It was my first 90 minutes in about a year but I didn’t feel miles off it which was pleasing and I know it will take me a bit of time to really get going with sharpness.
“I’ll be able to learn from players like Dale [Carrick] and there are some quality players here in big Josh Kerr, Adam Brown and even Harry Wright is someone I know.”
Albion’s season has take on a topsy-turvy character, with just three draws sandwiched in amongst seven wins and nine defeats to leave them four points off the final playoff spot – albeit with a game in hand.
The task to turn around their poor recent form doesn’t get any easier on Saturday with a long trip north to visit promotion-chasing Peterhead at Balmoor.
“We know it’s a tough place to go, but for us, we have to go up and believe we can get a result and move up the table”, Shanley continued.
“We need to build the consistency in our results and performances to try to stop being so up and down – the aim will be to get a few wins on the bounce and go from there.”
A busy January has continued at Forthbank, with 18-year-old defender Leyton Grant arriving from Rangers, while young Hearts full-back Bailey Dall has returned to Tynecastle after spending the first half of the season in Stirling.
On Grant, Stirling boss Maybury said: “We are delighted that Leyton has joined us until the end of the season.
“We were aware of him due to Callum Erskine. Callum is a goalkeeping coach for Scotland U19’s, and Leyton is an U19 international.
“We feel he brings something a bit different to the squad, and we would like to thank Rangers for making this happen.”
Meanwhile, Stirling’s home match with Spartans – called off due to the cold weather last weekend – has been re-arranged for Tuesday, February 4 with a 7:45pm kick-off.