Greg Fleming looks set to extend his stay with Peterhead as the goalkeeper is close to agreeing a new contract at Balmoor.
The former Ayr and Gretna stopper is out of contract but the incentive of putting right the wrongs of the last campaign, in which the Blue Toon were denied promotion to League 1 in the play-off final, has persuaded him to stay.
Appealing offers did come elsewhere for Fleming, who signed for Peterhead last summer after leaving the Honest Men. He lives in Annan and travelled up for games with Willie Gibson, who is based in Dumfries. His former team-mate at Somerset Park Paddy Boyle has also made the switch to part-time football this summer.
Fleming hopes the deal can be tied up soon as he looks forward to helping Peterhead out of League 2.
He said: “I’ve been speaking to the club quite a bit lately and I think it’s pretty close to having something sorted. I needed to take time to think about what’s happened and there were other options. I wanted to weight it up but the chance to stay and put right what happened last season, it needed to be done.
“I’ve seen a lot of lads staying and I wanted to stay for the same reason. The points tally we had, in more or less any other year, would have won the league. With Paddy joining, we’re going to be a strong team again.”
Simon Ferry, Willie Gibson, Jason Brown, Mason Robertson, Jack Leitch and Jamie Stevenson have all signed on for next season, while Boyle has been joined by Stirling Albion forward Ross Kavanagh in signing for Jim McInally’s side. Aidan McIlduff and Russell McLean have offers out to them, while Jordon Brown has turned down a contract extension.
McInally reaffirmed his commitment to the Balmoor outfit and Boyle’s signing represents a coup, having been on the books of Everton and Norwich City and played in the Premiership for Dunfermline.
Fleming added: “I spoke to Paddy before he signed and said it would be a good place to come – you’re well looked after. He’s a good defender but can get forward and has played at a good level.
“I think the manager’s situation played into folk’s decisions, whether they were going to stay or not. He’s a good manager and a good person as well – you want to play for him. We want to right last season for ourselves and for him.”
