BY ALAN TEMPLE – Capital City Press
Former Scotland midfielder Ian Black is weighing up a contract offer from Berwick Rangers as the League Two minnows attempt to complete a sensational transfer swoop.
The 30-year-old, who is a free agent following his release by Rangers, appeared as a trialist for the Borderers on Tuesday, finding the net in their 4-2 win at Haddington Athletic.
And Wee Rangers player/manager Colin Cameron has revealed the club have put together a deal which they hope will tempt the ex-Hearts and Inverness battler to join ahead of Saturday’s Petrofac Training Cup tie against St Mirren.
It is understood Black is considering a one-year contract with a break clause if a full-time team wish to snap him up during the January transfer window. The player is expected to inform Cameron of his decision at Berwick training this evening.
Cameron told Capital City Press: “When Ian wasn’t fixed up with a club we decided to sit down with the chairman and put together a package for him. We offered him something on Tuesday night and he is thinking about it.
“He is open to the idea but there are obviously other things to consider. In terms of the finances, we won’t be able to offer him anything like what he has been accustomed to.
“He will have to weigh up the pro and cons and decide whether it would be enough to keep him ticking over.
“He is talking it over with his family at the moment and I would expect to have an answer before Saturday’s game against St Mirren and he would then come into contention for that.
“At our level, you just don’t get players like Ian Black, so if it comes off, it will be a major signing for us.”
Black made 111 appearances in three seasons for Rangers but never recaptured the form he showed during spells at Hearts and Inverness, ultimately leaving the club earlier this summer and claiming he had been made a “scapegoat” for the Gers’ failings.
He recently stated that he was attracting suitors from England, with MK Dons and Preston North End among the sides credited with an interest.
However, having failed to agree a deal with any club, north or south of the border, ahead of the upcoming campaign, Cameron has urged Black to use a stint at Shielfield to remind potential employers of his worth.
Cameron continued: “I’ve promised him that we would give him the chance to play regularly, which has been something missing for him, particularly at the back end of last season.
“You are soon forgotten about when you are not playing regularly and I’m giving him the opportunity to show what he can do again. If he does that, he’ll be attracting interest in no time because he is a quality player.”
