Queen of The South FC is delighted to announce the signing on pre-contracts of Robbie Thomson and Ryan Conroy.
Twenty-two year old Robbie is a former Celtic, Rochdale and Cowdenbeath goalkeeper who impressed against us last season and also in a loan spell with Stenhousemuir during our 2nd Division Championship season. Meanwhile 28 year old left sided Ryan, who had a loan spell at Palmerston in 2010 whilst with Celtic, was with Raith Rovers last season and was previously a Championship winner with Dundee.
We are also happy to confirm that Paul Burns, Jake Pickard and Scott Hooper have all agreed one year extensions to their contracts.
With regards to the new signings, manager James Fowler says “I’m excited to have these guys on board. Ryan is a very creative player and has the ability to score goals. His performances against us this season shows his quality. Having been with the club before, he was keen to join us and the fact that he can play a number of positions is good for us as it gives us strength in the squad”.
“Robbie is a young keeper who fits the profile we’re looking for. He had other offers available but he chose to come to Queens which is pleasing. It’ll be good competition between Robbie and Jim (Atkinson) next season”.
The manager also had praise for Paul Burns adding “Burner will be registered as a player but he will be heavily involved in the coaching side of things, he’s been a great help to me so far and will be the link between the Under 20s and the first team”.
As reported elsewhere Kevin Holt, who was out of contract, has exercised his right to join Dundee FC. Due to his age the club will be entitled to compensation for his development. The clubs have not agreed a fee and so the matter is likely to be decided by a tribunal. Kevin has been attached to the club since he was 11 years old and had made well over 100 appearances at first team level.
The club have agreed a fee with Ross County in respect of Ian McShane. We would have preferred Ian to stay but he was keen to take the opportunity of a move to the Premiership. Ian agreed personal terms with County this week and will move on when the window opens in June. He made 77 starts and 23 sub appearances for the club so featured in the first team exactly 100 times.
As regards other players on whom there is definite news, right back Chris Mitchell has agreed a pre-contract with Clyde whilst Kevin Dzierzawski will join Peterhead on a permanent basis if he is successfully granted a work permit extension. We had been advised that there was virtually no chance that a work permit application for him to continue at Queen of the South would succeed given his lack of recent first team involvement but that one for Peterhead may well succeed following his successful loan spell there. And goalkeeper Zander Clark will be returning to St Johnstone following an 18 month loan spell which has worked out very well for all parties.
The manager offered his best wishes to those moving on “they have been great servants to the club and I wish them all the best with their new clubs. They all have a big future in the game”.
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