Defenders

So, on with the squad review and let's look at our Defenders.

Berwick go into this season of course without a certain G. McNicoll (left) in the squad. Released after 10 years service it's going to be odd when the team list for the Cowdenbeath game is read out at Shielfield and Grant's not on it. I'm a big Grant fan and it won't be the same at Berwick without him but you have to respect Cough for coming clean and stating exactly why Grant's no longer at Berwick. He did pick up injuries - although that seemed to be rather contagious for our centre backs last season - and last season they kept him out for several games at the start of the season and again in the crucial run in. However, when he was playing we regularly kept clean sheets last season. Good luck to Grant & thanks for your dedicated service over ten seasons and 250+ appearances.

So that leaves the club, according to the official website, with Robbie Manson, Chris McGroaty, Robbie Horn (right) and Jordan Smith as our men at the back. One new name this season is Michael Bolochoweckjy. A centre back by trade, he joins Robbie Horn and Jordan Smith at that position. 'Bolo' joins from Alloa, where he was not a regular by any means and playing in a team that conceded over 70 goals last season it will be interesting to see if he can force himself into the team. A look-a-like for Dr Who star David Tennent apparently, I guess it will depend on the formation (flat back 4 or a 5 at the back) that Coughlin goes with rather than whether he can exterminate the competition. Clearly has Division 2 experience and it also looks like he can play in a number of different positions - up front and at full back so he could be a useful utility player.

Horn and Smith need no introduction really but here goes. This is the start of Robbie's 4th season at Shielfield - although the Stats suggest he's yet to play 50 league games. Joining from Forfar he played understudy for a while before sitting most of 05/06 out through injury. He came back from that last year and very much established himself as a real fans-favourite. Got the odd goal last season too.

Jordan Smith (left) gets his first taste of Division Two football and from what we saw of him last year he's more than capable. Again, only managed 20 odd games last year so hopefully he'll pick up less knocks this year and can take the clean sheet habit into the much tougher arena of SFL2.

On the right Robbie Manson (right), who joined from Heriott Watt Uni last summer, established himself in that position after a while and provided Berwick with some good width. He seemed comfortable advancing down the right to set up Wood and Haynes for a strike at goal. With Bolo and another new man Tommy Lennox both able to play on the right Berwick will have better cover this year although I imagine Robbie will keep his starting place.

On the left Chris McGroaty must be the favourite to start. Now in his second spell at Berwick, he played briefly in Division 2 for Stranraer last year before moving to Shielfield in the January transfer window. Dependable and wily but not as likely to come forward as Manson. Watch for his free-kicks too. Steve Noble can deputise.

One thing you notice about Cough's squad is that there are relatively few one-trick ponies at Berwick - most of the squad can play somewhere else. Last year we saw Stuart Fraser deputising at the back and of course Gary Wood is just as good at the back but if we have to rely on him for that we're going to miss his goals.