Vale boss looks to future now

Michele Lombardi will be returning to the Vale ranks from Australia next season.

DEVERONVALE manager Scott Anderson shared every bit of his players’ pain at losing last week’s title decider against Buckie Thistle.

However, he is already looking to the future – with considerable optimism.

He knows he has a squad of players who are determined to succeed and are already signed up for the season ahead.

He will also have players returning from injury and the talented and influential Michele Lombardi returning from his trip Down Under.

Anderson also revealed to ‘The Banffshire Journal’ this week that he was looking to add to the squad’s attacking options as well as continuing to nurture young talent coming through the ranks.

"The Buckie result was disappointing, but we have dusted ourselves off now and are looking to next season," he said.

"I was extremely proud of the players and they are going to come back more determined to win the league.

"We have the whole squad signed up and we are working on bringing in one or two additions, a striker and a wide player.

"We will also be keeping our eye on the under-21 team and see if there are any young players we can take into the first team, as we did last season.

"Our young players we brought in have a season’s experience now, so that will also be a huge benefit."

After a hard season the players are enjoying a well-earned break with pre-season training beginning next month.

The weeks ahead will also see the return of Lombardi, who was on great form before he left for his three-month trip to Australia.

Anderson said: "It will be great to have Michele back – he was on fire before he left. With him being away, it will almost be like taking in a new player.

"Gordon Carstairs, Bryan Dlugonski and Martin Skinner, who have been out with injury, now have the chance to recover and could be a great boost when they return.

"We are now looking to get pre-season games organised, so we are properly prepared, and I know we will have great confidence by the time the first game of the season comes around."