ARTHURLIE gaffer Billy Ogilvie has quashed talk of unrest in the camp, hinting that a recent slew of transfer requests could be a hangover from the previous regime.

Chris Lennon, Steven Tart, Marc McKenzie and Jamie Watson all looked set to depart the Super Premier Division outfit last week, leading to speculation in the Junior ranks that all was not well in Barrhead.

Winger McKenzie has since decided to stay put; however, Lennon and Watson sealed moves to Cumbernauld United and Kilsyth Rangers respectively, while Tart remains on the transfer list.

The ex-East Kilbride boss took over at Dunterlie Park in October, inheriting a tight squad from Chris Mackie, and explained that he’s still looking to put his stamp on the one that faces a battle to stay in the league and departures have to be expected.

“Managers often come in and players maybe want to move on,” said Ogilvie.

“It’s not for any particular reason, they maybe wanted to move on before I arrived.

“I wish Chris all the best at Cumbernauld, he was a great boy to work with.

“The fact is we’ve got two excellent, experienced strikers and Chris was coming just behind that, so we felt it was better for both parties that he moved on.

“Marc asked to be taken off the list again. I think he was only on it because the boys lost heavily to Pollock and he takes his own performance very seriously.

“He’s got over that wee frustration now and he’s ready to get back in the game. It was nothing major and nothing more than that. He just wants to get back to playing football.”

With transfer business mainly outgoings, Ogilvie has moved to plug the gaps by bringing in a familiar face from his Lowland League days.

Experienced midfielder Martin McBride has arrived at Dunterlie on loan until March 18 after playing under Ogilvie at K Park, while striker Dominic O’Halloran has made the switch from Shotts Bon Accord.

The 31-year-old can count Albion Rovers, Cowdenbeath, Stranraer and Queen’s Park among his former clubs and the gaffer hopes he’ll bring some mettle for Lie’s basement battle.

“Martin’s a hugely experienced player who I know very well,” he said.

“He’ll bolster the squad and add a bit of quality. Otherwise I’ll look to our youth set-up. We have an excellent academy.”

With blizzard conditions making it nigh-on impossible for any Juniors action this weekend, the debate over whether football at this level should be moved to the summer has reared its head once again.

Ogilvie is a strong supporter of the idea and called on the governing bodies to consider the switch.

“It’s a total no-brainer for Junior football,” said the 57-year-old. “The season’s been disrupted yet again.

“Junior clubs need the cash. It’s really difficult for us trying to make ends meet without taking away the punters coming through the turnstiles on top of that.

“Summer football is the most common sense idea for us and I hope the powers that be are looking at it."

With tomorrow’s Central League Cup tie not yet postponed, Ogilvie insists he remains wary of the visit of a Glasgow Perthshire side who hindered Lie’s rivals Pollok in the Scottish Junior Cup before being eliminated.

“Perthshire are a good wee team and they’ll be very difficult if the game goes ahead,” he said.

“If they can take Pollok to a replay, they can certainly put up a fight against most teams in our league.

“A tough game is what I’m expecting and it’s another on where we’ll have to be at our best."