New Stirling goalkeeper admits excitement over fresh start as manager hunt continues

The starting gun for the 2024/25 season has been fired as Stirling Albion find out their first opponents – and their first new arrival admits he’s relishing the chance for some fresh sights.

The Binos will play against Premiership Ross County, Championship side Raith Rovers, Montrose from League One and fellow League Two side Stranraer in this year’s Premier Sports Cup group stage.

It’s set to be a summer of change at Forthbank, with the club confirming the departure of a number of key players from last season, including midfielders Kyle Banner and Jack Leitch as well as defender Adam Cummins.

In the other direction, veteran keeper Derek Gaston will take his place between the sticks after more than five years with Arbroath.

The upcoming season will be the first season for Gaston in the fourth tier since his senior debut for Albion Rovers in the 2010/11 season – with the veteran goalkeeper boasting a total of 465 senior appearances.

Gaston, 37, this week told the Observer: “I’ve probably spent about 11 or 12 seasons in the Championship, so I’m quite excited for the season because it will be lots of new stadiums and playing at some clubs I’ve not been at for over a decade.

“Playing the same teams can be repetitive, going to Raith or Dunfermline so many times a season to the point it loses a bit of excitement so it will be good to enjoy that variety.

“I could have went and been a number two somewhere else but I want to be playing games at this stage in my career and I’ve always been that way – wanting to play every week – so hopefully I’ll be able to play the majority of the games.

“I still feel as fit as I did five years ago, I’m not slowing down and I definitely feel as if I have a few years left in me.”

The arrival of