The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Irvine ‘delighted’ as striker re-signs
Forfar Athletic have moved quickly to keep hold of jointtop goalscorer Stefan McCluskey for another year.
The experienced striker has put pen to paper on a contract extension until the end of the 2022-23 season.
McCluskey has netted eight times so far this campaign in 20 appearances as the Loons bid to return to League 1 at the first time of asking.
Forfar manager Gary Irvine is delighted to secure the veteran’s services.
“Any player that adds goals to their name no doubt brings attention and people take notice of it,” he told Courier Sport.
“It was important for myself to realise that.
“I’ve got a very good relationship with Stefan and have always known what he can offer.
“He’s versatile and can play in a good few positions.
“All of those attributes add to possible interests and it was important that the club managed to tie him down and I’m delighted it happened.”
Irvine believes the extension is just reward for the attacker who joined the Station Park side in the summer.
McCluskey will now hope to add more goals to his tally as second-placed Forfar look to close the seven-point gap to Kelty Hearts.
“It was important that I rewarded Stefan with the season he’s had so far,” Irvine said.
“He has played big part in it, scoring good goals for us and we’re looking for him to continue that on the rest of this season and next season as well.
“I’m delighted for him; he’s worked really hard for it. It’s a real good one for the club as well.”
McCluskey, who has also played for Clyde, Morton and Dumbarton, is the ninth player in the Loons squad under contract for next season or beyond. Meanwhile, Irvine is still assessing his options as he looks to strengthen his midfield and attacking choices.
However, the departures of Michael Travis, Mark Gallagher and Steven Doris this week do not necessarily mean space has opened up for three new additions.
Irvine said: “We were very well covered defensively anyway.
“That’s the reason why Michael wanted to get himself playing regularly somewhere.
“Mark and Steven were midfield and attacking options but I’m always looking at attacking options to help the squad for the rest of the season. I’ll continue to do that.
“But at this moment in time there is nothing concrete or anything to report.”
Irvine’s side head to in-form Annan Athletic today in a battle between second and third in the cinch League 2. The Galabankies are unbeaten in eight games and manager Peter Murphy was yesterday named manager of the month after a terrific run of form that included a 5-1 win over runaway league leaders Kelty on Boxing Day.
Forfar bounced back from two straight defeats to beat Stranraer 3-2 at Station Park to remain two points ahead of their hosts today.
The Angus men will welcome back McCluskey to their squad as well as Matty Aitken and Yusuf Hussain, who all played in a bounce game on Tuesday after missing the Stranraer game because of illness.
The Loons, who have beaten Annan twice this season, will also look to give more minutes to former St Mirren defender Darren Whye as he continues his road back to full fitness after 15 months on the sidelines.