Petrie hails deals as part of way forward

Montrose boss Stewart Petrie insists two of the club’s promising youngsters signing contract extensions is a sure sign the Gable Endies are moving in the right direction.

Earlier this week midfielder Liam Callaghan and defender Matty Allan put pen to paper on deals that keep them with the Angus side until summer 2019.

They join several others who have already committed their futures to the club beyond the end of this season.

Having those players signed up is something Petrie believes is the way forward for Montrose.

The 47-year-old, whose side sit second top of the League 2 table, said: “It is the way we are looking to build for the future.

“Obviously you need to freshen things up from time to time, but we do not want to be making 10 or 12 changes at the end of every season so it is important to have that continuity.

“We are looking to build something long term, so it is great to get Liam and Matty signed up.

“They have earned these deals as they have done well for us and are great lads to have around the place.”

He added: “Both boys are great professionals, they fit in really well in the dressing-room and we now have the strong nucleus of a squad for next season with Andrew Steeves, Graham Webster, Ryan Ferguson and Sean Dillon already signed.

“We are going well at the moment but you are always looking to add a bit more quality as long as the players are better than what you already have.

“The board have given us great backing and it is credit to them that the lads have decided to commit their futures to the club.

“Liam and Matty could have waited until the summer to see what else they could get, but by signing these deals they have shown they are also buying into what we are trying to achieve with Montrose.”

Arbroath have signed 20-yearold midfielder Scott Martin on an emergency loan from Hibs until the middle of January.