THE return of Lee Alexander to Glasgow City from the Swedish club Mallbackens could provide the answer to an intriguing question. Namely, is Alexander or Scotland captain Gemma Fay the better goalkeeper?
Both are now on the books of the Scottish champions, and head coach Scott Booth will have to decide who is going to be his first-choice keeper.
At national level, Anna Signeul has never wavered in her belief that Fay, who joined City last winter from Celtic, is Scotland’s No 1. The 35-year-old has been a constant pick for the Swede and is just five short of the 200-cap mark.
Alexander, who was Fay’s predecessor at City, is 10 years younger. She has never played for Scotland despite proving herself many times at Champions League level before her one-season move to Sweden.
Booth says he will watch both players in pre-season friendlies before deciding which one is handed the first-team jersey. At the moment, he maintains, he has an open mind.
With Fay set to continue as Signeul’s captain at Euro 2017, his decision will be watched with interest far beyond the confines of the club.
It is worth noting City have a third goalkeeper. Erin Clachers is just 17 but is highly regarded. At some point in the future she could be a contender for Scotland herself. For now she will have to be content with development team games and the occasional first-team appearance.
WORD reaches me that Rangers will not be appointing their next women’s manager until next month. This is despite the previous incumbent, Kevin Murphy, handing in his notice before the end of the SWPL season in October. It is believed Rangers are splitting his job into two roles – one heading up community football and the other the part-time manager of the women’s team.
Taking three months to make the appointment sends out a bad message. Would Rangers wait that long to replace Mark Warburton?
Whoever comes in will have a lot of catching up to do. Not least in the area of player recruitment – and by January that boat will already have long left the harbour.
FINALLY, Anna Signeul met more than 20 members of her Euro 2017 squad at Oriam on Thursday night, allowing the national coach to explain what can be expected during the six-month build-up to the championship. New Scottish FA performance director Malky Mackay was also introduced to the players. It was one of his more straight-forward assignments on a day when his appointment was shrouded in controversy.
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