Bobby Barr could be heading for a fresh challenge

May 13 2009 by Colin Paterson, Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser

PAUL MARTIN has revealed that three clubs have declared an interest in signing Albion Rovers playmaker Bobby Barr.

The Cliftonhill gaffer admits the PFA Scotland third division player of the year is a wanted man.

And he told the Advertiser the club will not stand in the 20-year-old’s way if he decides to move on to pastures new, insisting the final decision will rest with him.

Barr, who was released by St Johnstone last summer, has been a big hit with the Rovers faithful this season and scored 13 goals.

He is contracted to the club until the end of next season, but Martin knows he faces a fight to keep his young starlet in Coatbridge.

“There has been a lot of interest in Bobby already with three clubs contacting us,” the manager told the Advertiser.

“It’s down to Bobby at the end of the day. If he wants to go, he can go.

“I would absolutely love to keep him but when he arrived, we had a plan to get him back playing at a higher level of football.

“He has suffered a wee bit in these final weeks, but that is no different to any of our other middle to front players.

“Bobby has done great for us and I can’t speak any more highly of him.”

Rovers boss Martin will tomorrow continue his rebuilding programme as he decides on the future of his out-of-contract players.

As well as Barr; Jamie Ewings, Alan Benton, Danny Ferry, Brendan Crozier, Steven McKeown and Marc Pollock are on deals which take them through until the end of next term.

Ciaran Donnelly is still mulling over the terms made to him several weeks ago while the full-back duo of Alan Reid and Michael McGowan have been offered fresh contracts.

A verbal agreement has been reached with striker Pat Walker and Martin expects him to sign on the dotted line when he returns from his round-the-world trip.

The gaffer added: “My job now is to sort out who is capable of doing a turn for us and who isn’t.

“I have spoken to half-a-dozen players, and if I were to sign every one of them, I know we will be in a position to challenge.

“We can give these players a platform to play regularly, but we can’t pay them the money they are currently on.

“It’s going to be a hard summer, but we have a lot of guys coming in for pre-season training, so we can have a look at them.

“We have junior players and the very best of those who play at under-21 level. We want to get away from the Rovers of old when players could just phone up for a trial and get one.”