Elgin City manager Gavin Price feels the recent departures of Shane Sutherland and Rabin Omar to Championship clubs reflects strongly on the Black and Whites.
Forward Sutherland earned a return to former club Caley Thistle seven years his release by the Highlanders, while midfielder Omar also secured a switch to full-time football with Morton.
Although Price is disappointed to lose two key parts of his team, the Elgin boss takes satisfaction in the role the Moray outfit have played in the development of Sutherland and Omar.
Price said: “I’m pleased for things like that. I think it’s a good reflection on Elgin when two of our players from last season in Shane and Rabin have ended up in the Championship this year.
“For me, we are doing things right if that’s the case. They are two players I wouldn’t have wanted to have lost as they were important to our squad, but at the end of the day for them personally it’s full time football.
“It’s excellent for them and I wish them all the best.”
Price feels he has other players within his squad who are capable of playing at a higher level, including defender Stephen Bronsky who signed new deal at Borough Briggs in the summer despite full-time interest.
Price added: “We have other players who have definitely improved over the years.
“I’m not saying Elgin City is a stepping stone, but it’s a sign the club is doing something right.
“We have guys like Stephen Bronsky who has improved so much over the three years he has been at Elgin.
“I know a lot of full-time clubs have been looking at him, and I’m glad he has committed his future to the club.
“I believe he’s trying to get into the police and he’s chosen to go down that route, but he’s another player we could easily have lost to full-time football.”
Elgin begin their build up to the new campaign when they play their first pre-season friendly at home to Lossiemouth tomorrow.
Having returned to training last week, Price is confident his side will be ready for the start of competitive action at home to Stirling Albion on October 10.
Price added: “We thought we would potentially have three League Cup games and that would be enough, but we now have a free date on the first Tuesday.
“The League Cup itself normally gives you four really testing fixtures before you start the season.
“We are missing a couple of them this year, so we will have to do things a little bit differently but we will be prepared for the start of the season.”
