With Greig Pirie already signed up, Tuesday (May 20) night was one for more major news coming out of Harlaw Park.

The big name to start off with is signature of the much sought after Mark Smith but quickly followed by Graeme Stewart who completed a switch from Buckie Thistle that was kept very quiet. Neil Murray and Andy Bisset's moves from Huntly were also concluded, after effectively being negotiated on Friday night.

The icing on the cake in a night of delight for Dave Cormie was Gary Nicol agreeing to return to the squad to challenge for further honours next season.

Dave Cormie opened up on the way ahead and started off with the jewel in the crown, former Scottish Semi Pro midfielder "Rusty" Smith, still in his early 20s, an attacking midfielder and very much a 15-20 goals a season man.

"Since it was announced Mark was to be released by Elgin City, I got permission from Robbie Williamson to speak to the player, our discussions with him have been ongoing," said the Locos boss.

"The timescale has worked out perfectly he always said this was the week he'd make up his mind. This time last week we had a further chat, tonight it was a case of getting paperwork done. I am delighted to get it sorted because he is now heading off to Las Vegas with Richie Singer and a number of Deveronvale players."

Smith is certain to be a player to excite Locos fans, a box to box player always looking to get into the area at the end of crosses, being a key figure in Vale's Championship success and their long Scottish Cup run.

He has crammed a lot of football into his career also being at Cove Rangers and in the junior ranks at Sunnybank on top of two stays at Princess Royal Park and Scottish League experience at Borough Briggs.

Another midfielder with height is Graeme Stewart, who this time last year was signing a one year deal with Buckie Thistle having had a loan spell there following a career to date with Inverness Caley Thistle, Peterhead and Montrose. At 26 the Spider is ready to add his own attributes as Cormie continued.

He said: "We have a very good quality midfield but needed more strength physically. We have not been at our best in regaining possession and keeping the ball. The added aerial power of Rusty and Spider, on top of Greig Pirie, means we will be even better at set pieces.

"These are boys I have really wanted to strengthen our team, it was fantastic winning the League Cup but we have seen there have been failings, and no strength in numbers."

Two players coming in as forecast at the back end of last week, again two players in their early to mid 20s, are Neil Murray and Andrew Bisset, one a former Locos target the other a former Locos player and Colony Boys product.

Murray joined up at Huntly in March 2007 having previously played for Cormie at Formartine. He was allowed by his boss to move up to the Highland League with Buckie and almost came to Harlaw in a proposed swap deal which would have involved Andy Low going to the Viccy at that time. Likewise Bisset also played at Pitmedden, moving to Christie Park
as an early signing for the then new Tigers boss in October 2006.

Cormie said: "Neil and Andrew are players I know very well having worked with them at other clubs before. They can be full backs, they can be wing backs and they give me the option of a three at the back, a four or a five. We needed strength in numbers in these positions.

"At the back I don't feel we have had enough pace, that has been proved at games in Wick and Lossiemouth, so next season at places like that as well as our home patch I want to see us commanding."

A real added boost is the surprise decision of Gary Nicol to return next season. The former Celtic Boys Club player who has played for Huntly, Deveronvale, Keith, Ellon United and Sunnybank, took a five month break for family reasons and it looked like he'd hang up his boots. He has decided otherwise having netted his 15th goal of the campaign to clinch the Cup win over Cove.

His manager was clearly delighted at the news: "To be honest I was not really looking at the striking department so Gary coming back is a bonus, we know what he is capable of, he links up so well with our other strikers."

And he concluded by making a statement to allay the fears of those who will ask some obvious questions: "People will say how do you keep everyone happy, but we only had 12 fit players for the Cup Final. It is only a big squad if everyone is fit and available.

"We as a management team are very happy so far, these players including Greig Pirie have all come to the club or returned to the club to win games and be successful. They join a cracking squad geared for further success."

Meanwhile, less than a day after confirming four key new signings, a re-signing and on the back of Pirie joining up, Locos almost completed their close season transfer jigsaw by acquiring a goalkeeper with great pedigree.

The 23 year old Andy Reid joins the Harlaw Park club on a three year deal seemingly as a straight replacement for the outgoing Paul Jarvie who recently turned down offers to renew his contract.

Aberdonian Reid has been allowed to leave the Station Park club by new boss Dick Campbell having only made five appearances last term for the Division Three bottom dogs, a minor hip operation losing him the number one shirt to Sandy Wood.

He joined the Loons almost exactly a year ago having made 30 appearances for Montrose in the previous season. A Scottish Under 19 cap, he joined Forfar having had prior experience as part of the soccer academy at Nottingham Forest, and then with Motherwell. He subsequently featured in the first team squad at Hibs before moving to Montrose in the summer of 2005.

At six feet one inch and 14 stone, Reid certainly will have an imposing presence in the Locos box. His most outstanding performance in recent times was as an emergency loan signing for Ellon United at the start of March, the Gordon club seeing the keeper settle in quickly against Superleague champions Culter, a controversial penalty decision eventually helping the visitors to victory.