Darryl McHardy still feels the pain of his Elgin City exit but is relishing a new challenge in the Highland League with Buckie Thistle
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A trip to Clachnacuddin on day one of the season will be a less arduous journey for Darryl McHardy than a long trek to Stranraer or Annan.
Those bus runs to the south of Scotland became second nature for the defender during more than a decade with his home town Elgin City, but now he is sizing up life in the Highland League with Buckie Thistle.
McHardy is relishing a fresh start with Jags, a club he has long admired, but he admitted the hurt of rejection from the club he still holds close to his heart burns deep.
He wasn't offered a new contract by City's new manager Ross Draper, ending a 12-year association with the Borough Briggs club spawning more than 300 SPFL appearances and almost 50 goals.
McHardy's release from the Black and Whites sparked a stampede amongst the top Highland League sides to secure his signature, and Buckie won the battle to get his name on the dotted line on a two-year contract.
"I can't wait to get started now," he said. "I trained with Buckie now and their squad, it's pretty ridiculous how good it is,. There's some brilliant players.
"Now I realise how professional it is here, so I don’t feel I’m making a step down in the professional sense. It is a step down in leagues but the standard I’m seeing here at Buckie is pretty wild.
"I was getting pushed to my limits in training, and I’m looking forward to keeping that going. I’m glad everything is out of the way now and I can clear my head now and get started and get some wins under my belt.
McHardy admitted when the news was broken to him that he wouldn't be staying at Elgin City, it reduced him to tears.
His rapport with the Black and Whites' support led to fans displaying banners proclaiming 'Super Darryl McHardy' and he wore his heart on his sleeve every time he pulled on the Elgin shirt.
That chapter in his career is over now, though he admits that turning the page to the next one has not been an easy process.
"I was speaking to guys like Soapy (Elgin midfielder Brian Cameron) who is gutted I’m going. But I’m starting to think I maybe won’t miss going down the the A9.
"Clach away on the first day sounds ideal in comparison to Stranraer away, or something like that.
"Having said that, it still feels a bit weird, Elgin was always my first choice so it still feels strange and I am still coming to terms with it but I’m sure I will settle in over the next couple of months.
"It’s not going to be one of those things that passes straight away, as I spent so many years at Elgin City. It is going to be a big miss, especially the whole club and what it meant to me.
"But I'm ready for the next challenge and I can't wait to get going."
