ALLOA stalwart Graeme Holmes has urged fans to be patient and trust in boss Danny Lennon, despite the mass exodus that has occurred at the Indodrill Stadium this summer.

The 31-year-old midfielder, who signed a new contract earlier this month, is one of the few remaining members from last season’s squad to remain at the club after high profile departures from the likes of Kevin Cawley, Mark Docherty and Ryan McCord.

But while the Wasps favourite can sympathise with the supporters frustration, he does believe the manager will still assemble a new look side good enough to remain in the division once again.

Holmes told Advertiser sport: “I didn’t know what to expect ahead of talks with the manager, especially given my red card in the playoff final, but there wasn’t a moment’s doubt once he offered me the new deal and I am delighted to sign on for another season at the club.

“I knew Danny would want to stamp his own authority on the team this summer and I am happy to be in his plans when so many have left the club because you never know what to think when you have been at a club for four years like I have. We will have to wait and see what happens with teams at the start of the season, but with only two part-time teams in the league we know we have to do even better this time around. I believe we can do that. These are the games you want to play in and I am sure Danny will have us ready to go come kick off on the opening day. We have to trust that the manager will do what’s right for the club and assemble a competitive squad that will allow us to challenge. Obviously with some of the fans’ favourites leaving it doesn’t help the mood, but hopefully if we can hang onto the likes of Liam Buchanan and Ben Gordon then the gaffer can add fresh quality then I think it will give them some belief. We are going to need them to get right behind us from the off and stick together so that hopefully we are celebrating again this time next year.” Holmes paid particular tribute to his two closest friends in the dressing room, in Docherty and Cawley, who he feels will be their loss and Dumbarton’s gain next season. He also admits that it will be a strange feeling to line up against them next season.

He said: “I am gutted to see all the lads leave who have been here for the three or four years – it is always tough when a squad like ours who had achieved so much breaks up, but it wasn’t going to last forever and that’s just football. I am sure the fans feel the same, but it certainly hasn’t been a great couple of weeks for everyone at the club with so much change. Sparky in particular is a close friend who I have worked and travelled alongside for the past number of years as well as Kevin Cawley. So it was tough to take at first when I heard their decision. On the pitch they both contributed so much to the team and they both have attributes that will be tough to replace. Kev is a victim of his own workrate sometimes where he gets played out of position because of the shift he puts in. He is a real handful for any team on his day and a big loss.

“Sparky provided the team with so many assists and for me was a close second for player of the year behind Ben Gordon. They remain great friends and so I wish them all the best next season, just not against us. That will be so strange to go up against them, but I’m sure as soon as the game begins then friendships will be put on hold until the final whistle. Hopefully we can win those games and get the bragging rights over them.” The former Greenock Morton and Dunfermline star is still confident the Wasps can once again defy all the odds to remain in the SPFL Championship for yet another season, but is all too aware that the coming season will be by far their toughest mission yet.

Holmes added: “It promises to be another exciting season now in the league. Rangers staying in the league is a huge bonus, but we can also look forward to Hibs, Morton and St Mirren and they are all great places to go and play. Morton will be a great addition to the league, but are a team we should look to compete with. I am at the age where I want to enjoy my football and so hopefully the manager continues to play the same style of attractive football that will allow us to go and shock a few teams again this season. I think it would be another unbelievable achievement to stay up again this season. Dumbarton have done it comfortably last year so we have to step up and look to match them this season.”