Ain't nobody....

As Barry Ferguson's new look Wasps struggle to find their feet early in the new campaign, it's hard not to think back five years and the last time Alloa underwent a drastic close season rebuild. 

Unlike the current crop, the Jack Ross class of 2016 hit the ground running. Premier League Inverness  were beaten as Alloa started the season by topping their League Cup group. Holders Ross County were then knocked out at the Recs on a night when a 3-2 defeat flattered the men from Dingwall. The Wasps started the league season by thrashing Peterhead 4-0 then going 5-1 up by half-time against Stranraer. With Iain Flannigan, Jordan Kirkpatrick, Kevin Cawley and Greig Spence rampant, Alloa were playing a swashbuckling style rarely seen in the lower leagues of Scottish football. Or indeed in the higher leagues. But the shrewd team builder that is Jack Ross had also ensured his side had a solid base. Andy Graham came in to partner Jason Marr and Scott Taggart took up residence at right back. Behind them all was Neil Parry.

Parry had impressed against Alloa previously for Queen's Park in particular. An imposing figure, he very quickly showed why Ross had brought him to the Recs. Parry was constantly communicating with his defence, he would calmly claim high balls and he consistently made saves when the opposition looked sure to score. Few League 1 strikers got the better of Parry in those opening months of 2016/17 and it took Brendan Rodgers' season long unbeaten Celtic team 83 minutes to get past him at Parkhead in the League Cup. With Ross tempted away by St Mirren, Alloa were ultimately beaten on penalties in the play-off final but few had done as much as Neil Parry to get them there in the first place.

As Jim Goodwin initially struggled in his first full campaign as manager, he was fortunate to at least have the safest pair of hands in the league between the sticks. And as Alloa began to motor in the months ahead, Parry was very much to the fore. Ross Stewart and Jordan Kirkpatrick got the headlines the day the Wasps were promoted at Dumbarton, but it was Parry who had kept Alloa alive earlier when the Sons had chances to kill the tie.

The big man would go on to flourish in the Championship. Alloa's possession based style under Goodwin won plenty of plaudits but it was still anchored by that rock steady foundation established two years earlier. Parry was regularly recognised by opposition fans as one of the best keepers in the Championship and Alloa supporters were frequently thankful that his personal situation meant he preferred part-time football. Had he wanted, he could easily have gone on to a bigger club.

Having rarely missed a game in his first few seasons at Alloa, Neil found himself hit by injuries under new manager Peter Grant in 2019/20. A facial knock sustained at Easter Road was all down to Parry's typical bravery, throwing himself at the feet of Christian Doidge to try and deny a goal. Shortly after, Parry suffered an altogether more serious injury at East End Park which ultimately required surgery to re-attach his hamstring to the bone. If Alloa were going to survive in the Championship again, they were going need to do it without their inspirational stopper. As Neily began the long road back to fitness, the Wasps were initially lucky to land Jamie McDonald as a short term replacement. On McDonald's return to Kilmarnock, the Wasps turned to young Kieran Wright on loan from Rangers. While Wright showed promise this just wasn't the time for a rookie, particularly with an injured Andy Graham also missing from the heart of defence. Despite playing plenty of good football, the Wasps looked doomed to relegation.

I well remember doing a double take when the BBC's Kenny Crawford tweeted a video of Alloa arriving at Dens Park for an early March midweek clash with Dundee. As the players made their way into Dens, there was the unmistakable figure of Neil Parry. Surely he couldn't be fit already? Well perhaps he wasn't, but even a partially fit Neil Parry - back in the team months ahead of schedule - was enough to lift Alloa. Dundee had 20 shots that night in wave after wave of attack but they couldn't find a way past the returning hero. A 0-0 draw provided Alloa with a crucial point but even more importantly, the return of Parry settled the defence and provided the platform for those in front to do their stuff. Four days later a rejuvenated Alloa defeated Inverness 2-0 on an afternoon when they could easily have scored 5 or 6. Parry had come back early from serious injury with two clean sheets and suddenly Alloa were looking up the league rather than down. In the end, the fast moving Covid crisis meant they didn't play again that season. When the league was eventually decided on points per game, the return of Neil Parry and those 4 points he inspired were absolutely crucial in keeping the Wasps in the Championship. Alloa have been fortunate in having several outstanding goalkeepers over the past 30 years; Ronnie Lowrie, Jim Butter, Mark Cairns and future Scotland cap Scott Bain stand out, but Neil Parry had shown himself to be the equal of any of them.

When Alloa finally re-emerged from lockdown in October 2020, Neil was among those looking rather rusty. Another long absence so soon after returning from injury was surely the reason he was so susceptible to niggly injuries in the early part of 2020/21. When he finally did get a run of games, he didn't always look quite so sure of himself as the Wasps eventually dropped out of the Championship. But this was Neil Parry and Alloa fans were confident that with a good pre-season and an extended run, he would soon be as good as ever.

And he might well be, but alas, it won't be in the colours of Alloa. After just one competitive game under Barry Ferguson, Parry was moved first to the bench then out of the matchday squad altogether. To be exiled on the back of one error seemed extremely harsh, but even more so in the case of a player who had given years of exceptional service, who had suffered serious injury in the cause of the club, and who was still widely rated as among the best in his position in Scottish part-time football. The same standards didn't seem to apply to the new manager's own signings either, some of whom have already racked up some eye watering errors yet continue to get more opportunities. 

On a personal note, my Dad and I made a special return to the Recs in August after a long, long absence. We both felt sad, however, to spot the lone figure of Neil Parry watching on from the stand. Parry's time at Alloa won't be defined by the manner of his departure but many will feel he deserved much better than this.

Managers have to make big calls and Barry Ferguson will be judged on his decisions. In this case however, he is in a very small minority. Quite possibly made up just of himself and the unfortunate seagull scudded by a Neil Parry clearance at Peterhead a few years back.

The Alloa support, his fellow players, countless opposition fans - and Britney Spears - we all know better. And we know there Ain't nobody like Neil Parry.