Jim McInally has not given up hope of keeping midfielder Scott Brown at Peterhead after the midfielder held talks with Dunfermline Athletic.
The Blue Toon boss spoke to Brown after his discussions with the Championship outfit last week and has been given some optimism, with the former St Johnstone man not thrilled by what they had to offer.
Brown finished his third season with Peterhead by lifting the League 2 title at Hampden Park but had been on a return to full-time football. Dunfermliune had made their interest known early but prior to heading away on holiday this week, Brown left East End Park with no deal signed.
He has been a firm favourite of McInally’s since he joined in 2016 and is understandably wanted at Balmoor, along with Jack Leitch who has also gone away on holiday without his future sorted.
McInally said: “Scott phoned me on Saturday after he spoke to Dunfermline and I didn’t think it would go well for us. I think he had accepted he would take their offer. But he’s come back saying he’s not made his mind up and will not be showing any more interest in it.
“If nothing better than Dunfermline comes up then hopefully he will be coming back to Peterhead. It gives us a bit of hope as we couldn’t really get another Scott Brown. From that aspect, he hope the club being so good to him comes back and you get a wee bit of payback.”
McInally is also pleased to retain the services of Jason Brown, who has snubbed interest from Cove Rangers to play for the Blue Toon in League 1.
He added: “Playing at that level is exactly what Jason needs and now he’s got the opportunity to do that.”