Leslie urged to concentrate on career not cash

ROSS Jack hopes Elgin City striker Stuart Leslie will ‘see sense’ and resist big-money offers elsewhere to stay at Borough Briggs next season.

Leslie (22) has twice rejected terms on a new deal with City, and is understood to be considering a move back into Highland League football with Brora Rangers or Nairn County.

Elgin manager Jack believes the Inverness-based player has been tempted by the lure of more cash from the big-spending Highland pair, but has not yet given up hope on Leslie re-thinking his future plans after a holiday in the sun.

“We’ve made a couple of offers now and he’s rejected them. Both were very, very good offers,” said Ross. “We won’t be making an improved offer, so it’s up to Stuart now.”

The City boss admitted he was disappointed the former Caley Thistle player was considering a drop down to Highland League, especially after he quit his job as a policeman because of his ambitions to use Division 3 football as a stepping stone to get back to full-time football.

“He has got to decide if he wants to play with us to develop his football career – as he said he was going to do when he joined us – or to play elsewhere for financial reasons. Obviously we want to keep him because we rate him highly, so I hope he sees sense and decides to stay.”

Should Leslie opt to leave, City would be seeking compensation because he is under 23 and therefore not a free agent.

Any move could be subject to a tribunal, where Elgin would point to their role in developing the player into a regular scorer in Division 3 and demand a sizeable fee.

Leslie is now away on holiday for a fortnight, meaning manager Jack may have to line up a suitable replacement in the event that he does lose the forward.

Another City star considering his future at the club in sunnier climes is Daniel Moore, who has been offered a new deal and will mull it over before making his decision next week on his return.

Moore has texted his manager from abroad to let him know the new deal is in his thoughts, and Jack remains confident his key playmaker will pen another contract at Borough Briggs.

Elgin resume pre season training a week on Saturday, and kick off their programme of friendly matches with a trip to Buckie Thistle on Friday, July 5 (8pm).

The Black and Whites are at Rothes on July 10 (7.45pm), host Caley Thistle on July 13 and make the short journey to Forres for Ryan Green’s testimonial match on Friday, July 19 (7.30pm).

A young Aberdeen side with some possible first team additions visit Borough Briggs on July 23, while City also hope to welcome Division 1 Livingston for a warm up game before their new campaign kicks off.