One thing many commented on in the Palmerston press box last season was Queens aging squad.
The midfield and defence in particular looked at times sluggish, and those older legs could have contributed to some of the late goals Queens conceded.

But this year, Chisholm seems to have taken a quite different approach.
While not making the team full of youngsters, he has definitely changed focus for this season.

The first sign of the change of direction was the re-introduction of the under 19s team - after having disbanded it a few years ago.

No doubt hoping for a repeat of the rewards reaped when Burns and Robertson came through the system.

Some of the eldest members of the squad were shown the door in May.

And with both 20-year-old defender Marc McAusland , 24-year-old keeper David Hutton , and Rocco Quinn, 22, all signing for the club, and a couple of youth player before that, the squad's average age is in free-fall.

Hopefully it's a policy that will pay dividend for the Doonhamers.

And it wont be long before we see what impact the fresh legs has with the season starting in a month.

KW

Last week we reported that Queens boss Gordon Chisholm could be in line for the Hibs job.
Chairman Davie Rae told us he didn't want Chis to go, fan spokesmen reminded us all of everything he has done for the club in his short tenure.
Had it been midseason, from the terraces Queens fans would shout "Chis - don't go!"

Meanwhile, somewhere in Nevada, dressed in a tuxedo (or maybe his Queens tracksuit), Chisholm, Gordon Chisholm, watches the spinning ball at a roulet table, blissfully unaware of the madness back home. Maybe.

No doubt Davie Rae is letting him know which teams are being linked with him, and before this week's helping, some of those looked credible - he's a good manager and a popular one too.

But something in the national press this week should put all our minds at ease.
Chisholm was being linked with the Motherwell job BEFORE it was even available.

Motherwell became the third team so far this season that Chis has been linked with, and bets are still on in the office about whether the fourth will be Falkirk or Partick Thistle.

It's like he's the most sought after manager in Scottish football. It's with some amount of surprise he isn't in line for the Celtic post as well.
Although judging from the problems they're having with compensation, it's unlikely the Bhoys could meet Rae's demands!

He's a cracking manager and is doing great things for Queens, and he still could go.
But it seems an extra big pinch of salt might be needed to get through this year's close season.

No doubt when Chisholm returns from America's Playground we'll see if there's a poker chip of truth in the speculation.

KW

Click on the link to hear racing sensation Allan McNish tell Standard reporter Kieran Westbrook about his preparations for Le Mans and that "Driver of the decade" award.

KW

Don't miss out on our exclusive interview with running sensation Nicola Hood who became the Nithsdale Female Sports Personality for 2008 after an exceptional year of running.
In that year Nicola became 3000 metre steeplechase champion and the senior West of Scotland cross country champion. On top of that she also represented Great Britain at junior level for the first time.
Standard reporter Kieran Westbrook asks her about the secret of her success, her hopes for the future, and what goes through her mind during those long runs.

Follow the link below to hear the interview with Nicola.

There were heart-breaking scenes at Raydale on Monday night as arguably the best two footballing sides of the East League's lower division missed out on promotion.

There are plenty of similarities between Stirling University and Gretna 2008: both teams are in their first year of East League football, both source out the best footballing talent from the local University, and both play some great attacking football.

And on Monday night there was more big similarities - both teams needed to win, and neither did.

A win for either would keep alive hopes of them catching Civil Service Strollers to the second promotion spot. But the thrilling match ended 3-3, ending both team's hopes of top flight football.

In a league that can at times see the more physical rather than the finesse of the beautiful game, both sides have breathed fresh life into the division.

Tynecastle and Civil Service Strollers have both done well to get into the top flight, and good luck to them.
It's just a shame for both sets of fans at the 3-3 draw on Monday night - neither of the East League new-boys will get to pit their wits against the established top tier sides.

The game itself was one of the most exciting I have witnessed all season.
It was a fantastic advert for the league and will hopefully be enough to attract all 263 spectators back next season.

But despite the result, Gretna can hold their head up high. It's been a trully remarkable season that has seen the club accepted into the East League, win the Alex Jack Cup, and get the keys to Raydale Park back.

It's a shame "win promotion to the Premier" can't be added to the list. But I'm sure they'll be up there fighting again next year.

Now the interesting thing will be how many of Rome's talented young footballers he can hang onto between now and the start of the new season.

Well done Gretna for an exceptional year, and look forward to seeing you in the 2009/10 season.

KW

It's been a fantastic year for sport in the region.
Curling World Champions, possible silverware for Gretna FC and Dalbeattie Star, and now Premiership rugby for Dumfries Saints!

- OK, so it may not have been the best of seasons for Queens, but successes in different sports is showing the great diversity of sport in Dumfries and Galloway.

What an achievement for Saints - six successive years of promotion.
And now, for the first time in their history, Saints will be in the Premiership next season.
Fans turning out to see Saints six years ago would scarcely have imagined their side would be in the same league as Melrose and Watsonians.
There may be a few divisions between them, but if the club keeps moving in the same direction, they might not be far away for long.

Promotion to the Premiership is a great achievement, and I'm already looking forward to seeing how they get on next year in the Standard.

Well done lads!

KW

With Sean O'Connor announcing his premature retirement this week and Stephen Dobbie's contract running out, it looks likely that tomorrow's clash with Dunfermline will be the last time either will be seen playing at Palmerston.

It will certainly be the last time the partnership will be on show there - and what a partnership it has been.

O'Connor's strength and work-rate combined with Dobbie's goal-scoring talent has been a joy to behold.

O'Connor's knee injury has finally taken its toll and the big frontman has decided to call it a day.
It's a crying shame that at only 27 he has had to hang up his boots.
Tributes have come from coaching staff, Queens players, and rival managers who have all commended him on his mentality and ability, and spoken of their sadness at the news.
Hopefully the Queens faithful will give him a good send-off at tomorrow's game.

And Stephen Dobbie looks to be on his way out too.
His contract runs out soon and despite Queens putting numerous offers on the table, contracts remain unsigned.
Dobbie has not yet committed to any other side and is keeping schtum about the speculation regarding his future.

He has reportedly attracted interest from Aberdeen, Kilmarnock, Dundee, Millwall and Swansea.
And with representatives from most of those clubs attending Queens'7-1 demolition of Clyde last weekend, the four goals he put past David Hutton will not have gone unnoticed.

A lot is still to be decided by Dobbie, but it looks like Chisholm will have two very big pairs of boots to fill for next season.

KW

It isn't often that a World Champion comes from your region - never mind two.

Lockerbie curling duo David Murdoch and Euan Byers reclaimed the 2009 Ford World Men's Curling Championship trophy for Scotland.

And while the curling pair only make up half of the Scotland side that beat Canada 7-6, a local civic reception is surely an appropriate way to celebrate.

If Queens had secured the Scottish Cup last season there would have been pandamonium in the streets of Dumfries, as would there be if Annan RFC won the Scottish Hydro Electric Cup.

But both of those are only domestic trophies - here we have a World Cup winning side and so far not so much as a song and dance!

David Mundell is pushing for a motion at Westminster to celebrate their fantastic success, and there was a mention of their achievements during a council meeting on Tuesday.

So here's hoping the World Champions get the party they deserve!

KW

On my return from a council Education Committee meeting on Tuesday afternoon, I was greeted by a dazzling, bright and colourful leaflet I found on my desk .

-It was the brand new, hot-off-the-press, newly released Original Bicycle Festival programme.

For those who don't know, the Original Bicycle Festival is running from the 9th to the 24th of May and will feature numerous cycling competitions, cultural events and days out.
It's a chance for people to get on the saddle - and watch the professionals doing the same.

I poured through the shiny new programme - for research purposes, of course - and saw just how varied and regularly events are on.

Although the majority are in Dumfries, there are races and days out across the region - everywhere from Longtown to Kirroughtree.

Personally, I'm looking forward to the Dumfries Criterium road race around Dumfries most of all, and World Record holder Mark Beaumont's talk about his experiences travelling the world on a bike, which will no doubt also draw a lot of interest.

One thing's for sure - if it's on, the Standard will be covering it!

KW

Just a quick mention of the successful Legends of the Oche event at DG One on Saturday night...

On a night that no doubt enjoyed some success off the back of Phil Taylor's visit last year, John Lowe, Eric Bristow and Bobby George dazzled star-struck fans with their presence, and Bobby George's outfit!
A packed and lively house enjoyed some comedy and darts from some of the world's most famous names in darts.

But the comedy wasn't restricted to the stage, with a gang of fancy-dressed surfers stealing the spot-light for a hilarious few minutes.

I confess I've no idea what they were doing, but it was all in good spirits.

And it was great to see some Standard competition winners getting up there to take on five-times world champ Eric Bristow.

A big thank you to Catherine Colwell for arranging the competition with us, and I'm sure she was delighted by the turnout and enthusiastic crowd.

KW