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Gavin Skelton is set to make a return to football as a player with Annan Athletic – just over a month after stepping down as Queen of the South manager.
The 35-year-old midfielder has agreed to link up with the League Two outfit until the end of the season and Galabank boss Jim Chapman is hoping to receive international clearance to have Skelton available for the Christmas Eve visit of Berwick Rangers.
After departing from his post at Palmerston on November 7 due to ‘personal reasons’, the experienced former Kilmarnock and Hamilton player had joined local Cumbrian side Appleby AFC as an amateur in the Westmorland league.
But Chapman is delighted he is on the verge of recruiting Skelton.
He said: “We’ve still to get a few things sorted out with Gavin but hopefully he can provide leadership qualities on the pitch for us.
“We’re a young side and it’s hard for me to try and do that from the sidelines but hopefully he can do that and we can help him progress as a coach as well, so it’s a win-win for everybody.
“I’m an honest manager and I’m confident in my own ability so I’ve got no problem with someone like Gavin coming in. Just to make it clear, I’m the one that phoned Gavin – there is no hidden agenda here.
“We had hoped to get international clearance through for Saturday but we’re hoping to get that through in the next couple of days.”
