12 hours ago
Stirling Albion keeper ready for new role as he hopes for quieter season
The 38-year-old keeper -who played every minute for the Binos last season - has taken on new responsibilities in the coaching staff, but is hoping to be less busy on the pitch this time around.
It's been another busy summer for Derek Gaston ... but the veteran keeper is hoping he's less occupied between the Stirling sticks this season.
The 38-year-old signed on for another season at Forthbank last week after a change in circumstances behind the scenes at the Binos prompted a U-turn on his initial decision to seek pastures new for the upcoming campaign.
With goalkeeping coach Calum Erskine moving on to a full-time club, Gaston has now stepped up to take on goalkeeping coach duties alongside his playing role.
But despite his added responsibilities, Gaston insists he won't take his eye off the ball on his important job as the last line of the Binos defence after a campaign where he made a league-record 133 saves behind a defence which struggled for long stretches.
Gaston told the Observer: 'It just seems to fly in every summer and so quickly, you're back in and getting to work.
'We were just a wee bit off in terms of the contract talks at the start of the summer, the gaffer wanted to keep me but that wasn't possible for budget reasons.
'I was actually on holiday in America when the gaffer phoned me to find out if I had anything lined up yet and whether I'd be interested in taking on the coaching side of things as well as playing.
'It was pretty straightforward from there, it had freed up a little in terms of wages and I got offered the terms; I didn't want to leave the club in May so it was nice to get it all sorted out.
'I've been preparing for coaching for a number of years, getting all of the badges and moving to the top of the ladder on that front because I wanted to have all of that in place when I do hang up the gloves.
'Getting the opportunity to work at the senior level is something I'm really looking forward to.
'There were a lot of saves to be made last year and I was pleased with my own personal performance, but I think we had the second worst record for clean sheets so that's something we need to address going into next season.
'It looks like it's going to be an almost completely new defence, so I'm hopeful that I won't be as busy and that will be on the front foot most weeks as an attacking side.
Gaston arrived at Forthbank a little over 12 months ago as a rare arrival in the chaos following the dismissal of Darren Young - with several experienced faces in that squad relegated from League One going elsewhere as the managerial appointment dragged on.
The keeper believes it's a very different vibe around pre-season this time as boss Alan Maybury pulls together what looks to be a strong squad for a League Two tilt with more new arrivals expected in the coming days.
'It has been a lot smoother and easier in terms of pre-season and it helps us that we have a good group still here from last season.
'There were trialists and new faces coming in last season, but the manager has his own players in the door now which means we can really have a proper pre-season sorted.'
