Lossiemouth are set to lose one of their star turns this season for a large chunk of the remainder of the season with Martin McMullen set to join the legions of offshore workers in the North East.

With Joe Lasley missing the remainder of the season due to a RAF placement in Iraq the already thin Lossiemouth squad will be stretched even further as we enter the final phase of the 2006-2007 season to the frustration of manager Tommy Madden who described the restrictions in place under the transfer window system as "simply useless".

Despite being pleased with the 5-2 win over Brora at the weekend Madden was clearly disappointed to be losing another two players.

"McMullen is away offshore on a three weeks on three weeks off rotation so we will be losing him and as yet we don't know when that will begin. I have lost Joe Lasley to a placement in Basra and now McMullen is going away offshore.

"We have Tony Ross only on loan from Forres Thistle but he won't be available for next week as he has to be signed because it is a cup tie. There is nothing we can do other than get on with it but this transfer window carry on is simply useless."

McMullen is the Coasters second top scorer this season with eight goals, the majority of them having come in a recent purple patch. Only Craig Morrison has netted more times for the reds.