Tranent boss Calum Elliot explains on his plans for Wayne McIntosh

Convincing veteran striker Wayne McIntosh to sign up for Tranent’s Lowland League pursuit is a priority for boss Calum Elliot, although they have a potential cup final to contend with first.

Fresh from securing promotion to Scottish football’s fifth-tier, Elliot takes his side to Ferguson Park tonight (kick-off 7.30pm) for their East of Scotland League Cup semi-final against Whitehill Welfare. Linlithgow Rose await the winners on Sunday to bring the curtain down on the campaign.

“It’s not sunk in yet [promotion], we are focussed on the game tonight now,” said Elliot. “If it was the last game of the season we could enjoy it, but it’s now about getting ready for tonight and making sure we get into a cup final and have the chance of more success. I don’t know how many players we will have available as we are almost in June now.”

With 90% of his current squad signed up for next season, Elliot will be speaking with those out of contract this week ahead of a brief break before planning for next season. One of those players is striker McIntosh, two years Elliot’s senior, who is still going strong at the ripe old age of 37.

Wayne McIntosh, centre, leads the celebrations for Tranent after their pyramid play-off triumph away to Darvel. Callum Elliot wants to the 37-year-old striker to play next season

Elliot continued: “Wayne can’t retire, he has too much to offer still and we will do everything we possibly can to try and keep him at the club. He’s like Peter Pan, he’s so infectious, he’s been an outstanding signing both on and off the park.

“His energy and enthusiasm for football is second to none, the younger lads need to look at boys like him at the tail end of his career; he still has that hunger. He always produces big moments in big games, I couldn’t speak highly enough of him, he’s just a brilliant boy that has been an absolute pleasure to work with.

“We will definitely have a bit of a break but you never switch off. The players will be delighted they don’t need to see me or speak to me for two or three weeks because I have pushed and pulled them and tried to drag everything I possible can out of them for the past year. At times I think I have been quite tough on them and pushed them, but I would like to think now that they understand why because they’ve now achieved something that I don’t think many people thought we would actually be able to do.”