We’re pleased to announce the signing of 20 year old defender Edin Lynch. Edin drew plaudits in his time at East Kilbride, and after a promising trial earned a contract with Premiership club Kilmarnock.

First team opportunities were at a premium, at Rugby Park, for the young defender who featured regularly in the Killie Reserves.

Peter Grant has snapped up the youngster on the expiry of his Kilmarnock contract on a year-long deal.

Edin is a young defender who can play anywhere across the defence, we spoke to Kilmarnock just after his release and they qualified what we already thought about him: he will prove to be a very valuable addition to the squad. He’s at a fantastic age and has a real hunger. With the squad we have here I have no doubt he will only get better. We are really looking forward to working with him.

Peter Grant. Alloa Manager

The 22-year-old midfielder has been a mainstay in the Hibernian Development team; while he impressed at spells on loan at Stenhousemuir and Airdrieonians in previous years.

He steps up to make his first foray into Championship football with ‘the Wasps’ on a season long loan.

Innes has already impressed at training at the Indodrill and we look forward to seeing him in competitive action in an Alloa shirt.

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Twenty three year old midfield player, Raymond Grant has tonight joined “The Wasps” after turning down an offer to extend his stay with Danny Lennon at Clyde where he was a great favourite and a key figure in their team since joining from Norwich City in 2018. We are delighted he has chosen to join his father at Alloa Athletic to play in the Championship next season.

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Alloa manager Peter Grant is delighted his son has decided to join us:

It was an extremely difficult decision, first of all for him to leave Clyde as he has had a fantastic time there with a special group of players and staff and a very supportive Clyde support, he had to make his decision what he wanted to do next, to be honest it has been a tough few weeks for him after I asked him would he come and join us and I fully understand why, but for me it was easy football wise, as it fits with the players we have. I’m really looking forward to working with him and I’m sure he will be really excited working along with the fantastic group of players and people we already have at the club.

The suspension of football by the Scottish FA will be lifted from Monday 24 August in line with the update provided by the First Minister yesterday to phase three of the Scottish Government’s route map out of the COVID-19 crisis.

In practical terms, this means that contact training for the youth and adult game – including professional and non-professional – can resume from Monday morning in line with updated government guidelines.

The details were outlined today to Scottish Championship, League One and League Two clubs in a series of videoconference calls hosted by the Joint Response Group. Further meetings are scheduled for tiers 5 and 6 of the Scottish football pyramid early next week.

Guidance has also been issued by the JRG Grassroots Sub Group throughout the recreational game in conjunction with sportscotland and the Scottish FA’s Return to Football Hub has been updated to reflect the most recent advice.

Rod Petrie, Joint Response Group Chair:

“This is a significant and hugely positive step forward for the whole of Scottish football and means that training can resume for both the professional and grassroots game from Monday.

“I understand the sacrifices players, coaches and clubs have been forced to make to get to this point but the health of the nation remains our absolute priority. Through the JRG and its grassroots sub group we have worked hard since yesterday’s announcement from the First Minister to put the latest government advice into context for the professional and non-professional game and to make the message as clear and as simple as possible.

“Training can resume on Monday in line with government’s ongoing social distancing measures and advice and, if the virus continues to be contained in Scotland, then the path to competitive football matches being played by October is tangible.

“We must continue to be vigilant and respect the guidance and protocols that are in place but on the JRG calls with Championship, League One and League Two today you could sense the anticipation to get football back and I know from my board colleague, Thomas McKeown, that the announcement has been met with similar excitement across the grassroots game.”

Thomas McKeown, Scottish FA Board Director and Chair of the JRG Grassroots Sub Group:

“We are pleased to move into the next phase of our routemap to the Return to Football, and the resumption of contact training and small-sided games within clubs at both adult and youth football is an extremely positive step forward.

“We wholly appreciate how keen everyone is to return fully to the game by restarting leagues and match activity but we also appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding as we move at the pace that we hope will ensure that as many people return to the game as possible by creating a welcoming, fun and most importantly, safe environment for all.”

The news comes in light of the First Minister announcing that Scottish football grounds could be opened up to fans from September 14, with restricted numbers and physical distancing measures in place. Discussions are already well under way to prepare for the Return to Supporting phase and Scottish Premiership clubs are currently producing documentation that will facilitate the gradual return to supporters within the configurations of each of the 12 stadia, including access and egress, logistics and health and safety protocols.

Neil Doncaster, SPFL Chief Executive:

“This is a major milestone in getting our game fully up and running again. It’s hard to overstate the significance of this development for clubs outwith the Premiership, which can now start preparing with confidence for the Betfred Cup on 6 October.

“The next crucial step will be allowing Scottish football fans back into games, based on the comprehensive range of safety measures which have been developed by clubs in close consultation with health experts.

“Discussions on pilot events at Premiership matches are now under way and everyone is determined, for the sake of the Scottish game as a whole, to ensure these go smoothly and safely.”

The Pars and the Wasps club together to beat COVID-19

Dunfermline Athletic Football Club and Alloa Athletic Football Club are both delighted to announce a working partnership for season 2020-21.

With the challenges posed by Covid-19, both clubs have agreed to work together next season, in the first such partnership in Scottish football, to assist each other with the sharing of resources and facilities.

Dunfermline Athletic will use the Indodrill Stadium as its designated training facility for the forthcoming season, with separate changing facilities and storage, in a Bio-Safe environment.

Both clubs have agreed a reciprocal arrangement, whereby, in the event of an emergency, if either East End Park or the Indodrill Stadium is out of commission next season, for any reason, then we can host each other’s first team fixtures. In addition, both clubs are currently reviewing other Covid-19 costs that they could share, which could include other local Professional football clubs in the Forth Valley.

Mike Mulraney, Alloa Chairman stated :

 We are convinced that this agreement shows that in these difficult times clubs can work together to ensure that we all not only survive, but can learn new ways to thrive even in the most difficult of circumstances, building resilience for both clubs will be only one of the very positive outcomes achieved.  We believe that this shows a positive way forward for clubs to share resource where appropriate and we thank Ross and all at Dunfermline for their positive approach and commitment to building a great outcome for both clubs”

Ross McArthur, Dunfermline Chairman stated :

We are delighted to agree this arrangement with our near neighbours, as next season will undoubtedly cause issues we have not experienced before. I am extremely grateful to Mike for working with us over the last few weeks to create something that will be of value to both clubs moving forward, in terms of meeting the JRG guidelines but also sharing costs.  I see this as a good new story of two clubs, in close proximity, working closely together for each other’s benefit. From DAFC’s perspective, it also provides us with certainty, as using a facility operated by a local authority next season could be extremely challenging on a number of fronts.”

Manager Peter Grant made his first signing of the close season, bringing in 23 year old defender Nicky Jamieson who had been with Queen’s Park last season.

Thanks to Iain Cairns for use of pictures.

Alloa Athletic FC can confirm Kevin O’Hara has today joined Dunfermline Athletic FC.

Since joining the club at the start of last season from Falkirk FC, Kevin has produced the form which has earned him plaudits which attracted attention of a number of clubs during the January transfer window.

With Kevin wanting to repay the faith manager Peter Grant had shown in him, he went on to win the Ladbrokes Championship Player of the Month for January 2020 and swept the board at the end of the season collecting Alloa Athletic Supporters Club “Player of the Year” along with the Alloa Advertiser “Player of the Year” awards.

He ended up the club’s top goalscorer for the season, scoring 14 goals in 33 appearances. The club would like to thank Kevin for his time with Alloa Athletic FC and wish him well in the future.

Alloa Athletic FC would also like to thank Dunfermline Athletic FC who have conducted themselves so diligently throughout the process at all times.