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As much as it's all part and parcel of football, it's never nice to see players leave the club, especially when they are as popular as .

Hooli played an important part in our historic first season in the Scottish Football League - scoring a few screamers along the way - but has found it difficult to even make the squad at times this season.

I've had my own problems in terms of playing in my time at the club so I know how difficult it has been for him this year and I really admire him for the way he has handled things.

To pretty much know you're not going to be playing at the weekend, yet still be at almost every training session and match is testament to how much Hooli wanted to fight to stay at the club.

He's one of the biggest jokers in the dressing room and will certainly be missed by everyone at Galabank, not least the players. I called him last night and although he didn't want to go, he simply knew he had to in order to get back playing again.

Young Gary Redpath has also left the club after finding it difficult to juggle the travelling along with his studies in Glasgow. Gaz only joined the club in the summer and made a few substitute appearances but hasn't featured in the last couple of months.

I'm sure he just wants to get back to playing football on a regular basis again. Gaz is a good footballer and I've no doubt he would have made a bigger impact at the club if he'd been able to concentrate solely on his football.

On behalf of all the players at the club we wish both the lads the very best for the future.

Now we can move on to our goalkeeper, Greg Kelly, going on a secret date with the manager, Harry Cairney.

This isn't going to make very pleasant reading for Bryan Gilfillan but apparently Greg and Harry attended a meeting with Hugh Dallas to discuss the issuing of yellow and red cards.

Poor Greg has taken a wee bit of stick from the lads since the gaffer let it slip in the programme at the weekend. In fact, we were all very surprised to see him at training on Monday as we fully expected him to be in Madrid with Harry and his pupils on their school trip!

We won't see Harry again until the game at Montrose on Saturday and, needless to say, there were a few boys who decided to take the night off on Monday - but it was great, as well as surprising to see both Greg and Gilly in attendance when their minds were almost certainly over in Spain!

The boys are off to Preston for their Christmas night out after our home game against Livingston on 19 December.

Unfortunately, I'm missing out due to work commitments on the Sunday morning but fingers crossed there are no before they travel - in saying that we are under no illusions that training will go ahead the following Monday.

It's been well documented that in my time at the club we have always struggled when social gatherings have been organised after a game. In order to attempt to stop the rot, I'm deliberately bringing it up a week early with absolutely no mention of it in next week's blog.

It's not unknown for incidents to arise on Christmas nights out where football clubs are concerned but I'm sure our boys will behave themselves. In saying that, I'm sure if they do get up to any mischief they'll get away with it no problem. I can't see anyone from the travelling down the M6 in search of a scoop!

See you next week.