Peterhead may look closer to home in their future recruitment, according to vice-chairman Les Hill.
The Blue Toon have long faced challenges in bringing in new signings, with the squad made up of from players from across Scotland.
It led them to often train in separate groups, with some in Aberdeen, Dundee and the Central Belt, until this season when manager Jim McInally managed to get training facilities twice a week in Dundee for the whole squad to train together.
But with the arrival of new manager David Robertson this week, the recruitment focus may be more localised in future.
His predecessor, Jim McInally, often documented the issues around getting players to come to Peterhead. What made the almost-constant squad-building all the more remarkable was that McInally combined a full-time job in Dundee with dedicating what free time he had to driving the Blue Toon forward.
However, with his departure, Peterhead find themselves at a crossroads and they may choose to take a different direction.
“What Davie will bring is a slightly different network of scouting in the Highland League,” said Hill. “There are quite a number of jewels in the Highland League and we’ve maybe overlooked some of these in the past.
“Not always – Hamish Ritchie for example, who’s unfortunately out for the season through injury. But we want to have a closer look at home, at trying to identify those players with a view of trying to get them to join Peterhead.
“Of course, there’s a balance, because we won’t be the only club looking for these players. In the past, we’ve had a strong Central Belt presence and they’ve done well.
“But I think going forward, we need to get the ratio a bit more balanced, where we push forward with more local – or closer to home – talent.
“We can’t ignore the central belt. The standard of players from there is very good and we have to get that balance right to keep everyone happy.”
He also hopes the reputation of the former Aberdeen, Rangers and Leeds defender can help in the transfer market.
“Once the players get to meet Davie and people do their research on him, looking at his credentials and experiences he’s had, we should be in a good place to attract players,” he added.
The fact Robertson has been given a longer deal, until the summer of 2025, also implies a change in approach from Peterhead.
“We are looking longer-term and Davie has a longer contract,” said Hill. “It gives him a bedding-in period.
“Obviously the next six months is not much of a bedding-in period. He needs to get after it from day one, as we’ve got two big games coming up against Kelty and Clyde.
“Those are crucial games for us.”
Peterhead: Vice-chairman Les Hill lays out David Robertson’s credentials for manager’s job
Conversation