Elgin City have agreed a loan deal with Formartine United for midfielder Archie Macphee to return to Borough Briggs for the coming season.
Having spent a season on loan from Ross County as a teenager, Macphee went on to enjoy a three-year permanent spell with Elgin during which he was made captain, prior to joining Formartine in 2017.
Macphee returned to City for a third time midway through last season, however he made just six appearances during his loan spell before the season was ended due to coronavirus.
The 27-year-old still has another year left on his Formartine contract, however City have put a deal in place with the Pitmedden outfit for him to return this term.
Elgin manager Gavin Price says the ball is now in Macphee’s court, and he said: “We are hoping to get Archie back.
“He is still signed with Formartine. We have agreed a loan deal with them, we just need to make sure Archie agrees to the deal which I’m hoping he will.
“He enjoyed his time at Elgin when he came in last year. We have agreed the deal with Formartine so it’s just up to Archie now if he wants to come.
“He would keep that continuity we’ve had in the squad.”
Price is also hoping to complete a deal to sign forward Josh Peters, who will be part of the Black and Whites’ squad when they return to pre-season training on Thursday.
Peters began his career with Strathspey Thistle before winning a move to Hibernian and also had a spell with Livingston. The 23-year-old was most recently with Stirling Albion, following stints with Forfar Athletic and Queen’s Park.
Price will also assess former Aberdeen winger Sean Linden, with the Elgin-based 18-year-old having been recently released by the Dons.
Price added: “Hopefully Josh and Archie can be part of the squad.
“We’ve got a few guys coming in for pre-season, on the premise that we are wanting to sign them.
“It has been difficult to do over the last wee while because we wanted the green light the season was definitely going to start.
“That has happened now, so hopefully we will sign these players.
“If we can get all these guys signed we are not a million miles away from the squad I want.
“We are just one wide player short. We’ve got Sean Linden in from Aberdeen. He’s a local guy who will be in for pre-season, so we will have a good look at him with the potential to sign him.”
Price also expects to secure youngsters Owen Loveland and Aidan Sopel on new deals in the coming days, adding: “We have a couple of young lads in Owen and Aidan who we were always going to sign. We will get that done over the next week or so.”