SKIPPER SWAPS SIDES AS BINOS BUSY IN TRANSFER MARKET AHEAD OF LEAGUE TWO RUN-IN

It’s been a busy few days at Forthbank as Stirling Albion tweak their squad for a busy run-in ... including the departure of a big summer arrival.

Stirling boss Alan Maybury pulled off a coup with the capture of ex-Stranraer captain Mark Russell, before deadline day itself brought a trimming of the Binos squad as three names departed.

The most notable was midfielder Ross Cunningham who has went back to Kelty Hearts for a small fee, while loanee forward Chris Eadie has returned to Rangers ahead of an anticipated move south.

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Wide man Kane Thomson was the final player to leave the club after not featuring in recent squads.

Russell’s signing was confirmed just hours after his old club and new one drew 1-1 in an important clash for top four status at Forthbank.

A strong first-half display from the hosts was capped by Ryan Shanley’s tap-in, but the in-form Blues rebounded well to draw level courtesy of Deryn Lang’s strike.

Neither side was able to find the finishing touch for a winning goal, with the sides still separated by two points in fourth and fifth.

Maybury was left to rue his side’s inability to keep up their pressure from the first 45 and acknowledges his side must be more streetwise in order to see out the result.

He said: “I thought we were excellent first half and could have been a couple of goals up – it’s as well as we’ve played.

“They showed a reaction in the second half and pushed some bodies forward which caused us issues and we didn’t really get the levels from the first; we lost a little structure and organisation which is the disappointing thing.

“The game became too open which isn’t what we want, although after that first 10-15 minutes of the second half, we got our shape back and we had a couple of decent chances.”

The draw means Stirling have still won only once on league business at Forthbank this season – a victory back at the end of August against Stranraer.

But Maybury insists the home/away splits are reflective of the status of the division and believes the corner is being turned on home displays.

“They are the same as us in terms of away and home splits, their one win at home is against us and ours is against them but we’re beaten good sides here, especially in the KDM”, Maybury continued.

“It’s not like it’s been terrible here and we’ve had some good performances and in the last wee while, the crowd have really got behind us and showed great

backing which has reflected those showings.

“As a whole, I think it’s going in the right direction.”

2026-02-03T16:23:36Z