End of an era

Greg Shields joins Scott Wilson and Scott Thomson out of club

Dunfermline Athletic have today given Greg Shields permission to leave the club. He has an offer from USL1 club Carolina Railhawks which he is seriously considering. This would pit him into action against the likes of Vancouver Whitecaps, Portland Timbers and Puerto Rico Islanders. All that sounds a million miles away from the alternative of trips to Dingwall, Starks Park, Somerset Park and Greenock.

Carolina currently sit top of the eleven team league. They are coached by Martin Rennie, a 33 year old Scot from Larbert who has 12 SFA and UEFA badges. Greg has been to the States, he spent five days there with his wife and described the training pitch as "frighteningly good, the best pitch you`d ever see". He liked the set up that is in stark contrast to West Fife. Two other faces over there are familiar to Greg; ex Par Richard Huxford is the fitness coach and Paul Ritchie is on the playing staff.

The USL league concludes on 14th September with the top team qualifying automatically for a semi final. The next six teams play off for the three other semi final places and the team that wins the final participates in the Concaf Cup.

Greg said:- "Sometimes you have to got to take the opportunities that come along, it is really too good an opportunity not to accept. I have the chance to go and play in places that I would never otherwise see."

That includes Miami, Austin and Montreal yet Greg would also be able to return to Scotland in October and spend Christmas here. Tampa Bay and New York Cosmos are tipped to enter the USL next season.

A more in depth interview with Greg will follow but he would like to thank everyone associated with the club, especially the Manager and the Board, for the memorable years that played such a major part of his playing career.

Click here for the Legends Menu Summer 2009 - 25% off all food in Legends until 31st May 2009!