Ex-Dumbarton striker joins a trio of new signings lined up for Forthbank next season
Stirling Albion have made striker Mark Stewart their fourth signing of the summer as Binos boss Dave Mackay continues to build for next season.
Stewart joins Elgin City left-back Jordan Allan, St Johnstone midfielder Danny Jardine and UB United striker Kevin Fell at the club for 2018/19 with the 29 year-old agreeing a two-year deal at Forthbank after being released from the second season of his contract at Dumbarton.
Stewart netted twice in 24 league appearances – 15 starts and nine as a substitute – as Stevie Aitken’s side battled in vain against the drop and also scored twice as the Sons reached the IRN-BRU Cup final, which they lost to Inverness Caley Thistle at McDiarmid Park.
He began his senior career with Falkirk in 2006/07 and scored twice when the Bairns won 5-0 at Forthbank in a First Division game in November 2010.
Stewart moved to Bradford City in 2011 and has also played for Dundee, Kilmarnock and Derry City. He joined Raith Rovers in 2014 and spent three years at Stark’s Park before a 12-month stint at Dumbarton, where he was less prolific than in Kirkcaldy but that was partly due to a lengthy spell on the sidelines due to injury from early December until mid-February.
Dumbarton as a team struggled for goals last term but Stewart has shown throughout his career that he is capable of finding the net on a regular basis, notching 11 goals in 2015/16 when Raith Rovers finished fourth in the Championship but lost narrowly to Hibs in the play-offs.
Binos boss Mackay, who recently tied up last season’s top scorer Darren Smith on a new deal, was delighted to secure the services of Stewart, who can play wide or through the middle.
He said: “Mark has played at a good level but he was hampered by injuries a wee bit last year. They cleared before the end of the season but I think his opportunities were limited due to Dumbarton maybe having to be a bit more defensive minded because of the situation they were in.
“I’ve no doubt he’ll score plenty goals at this level. He can play wide but I think he’s best through the middle. He makes good, intelligent runs and is a good finisher as well. He works extremely hard and I see him playing through the middle but if we need him to play wider in a front three he can do that.
“He’s always been quick – that’s one of his biggest assets – and he’s still quick enough to cause teams problems in League 2. He had a bad hamstring injury last year and maybe tried to come back too soon but he’s over it now and once he gets a good pre-season under his belt I’m sure he’ll hit the ground running.”
Stirling Albion have yet to confirm their pre-season schedule but Stranraer have announced they will host the Binos at Stair Park on Saturday, July 7.