The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Blue Toon lose talisman to Cove after eight years
Peterhead have lost both a fine player and an ambassador in Rory McAllister according to manager Jim McInally after the 32-year-old striker joined Cove Rangers on a three-and-a-half-year deal.
McAllister stunned Jim McInally by asking for a move on Monday after more than eight years at the club and despite offers from the Balmoor boss to secure McAllister’s future, the striker insisted that he wanted a “fresh challenge”.
A five-figure transfer fee was agreed between the two clubs and the deal was completed yesterday.
McInally said: “When Rory told me he wanted a move I asked him to think about his future.
“He was under contract with us until the summer of 2021 and I asked him to think about what he was going to do after that.
“I saw him as a coach or part of the management team in the future and we talked about the club putting him through his coaching qualifications.
“However he said he wanted to try somewhere else and that was that. We did everything we could to convince him to stay but his mind was made up.
“Not only are we losing a goalscorer but we are losing a big part of the club as Rory was always the first to help out at events with supporters and sponsors.
“He was a big character and enjoyed being part of things off the park as well where he took his role as captain seriously.”
Cove boss Paul Hartley said: “It’s a brilliant signing, a real statement of intent from our club.
“Rory’s record over the last 10 years has been incredible and I actually tried to take him to Dundee a few times when I was the manager there.”
McAllister said: “I’m excited to be here. I will be hooking up with a lot of guys who were also my teammates at Peterhead, which was a big pull but the main draw is the fact I was looking for a new challenge after eight-and-a-half great years with Peterhead.”