Moffat sold on Pars move following Otoo catch-up

Ross Hart rhart@dunfermlinepress.co.uk

DEADLINE DAY arrival Owen Moffat has revealed that hearing about life at Dunfermline from one of his close pals helped him decide on a move to the club.

On Friday, before the closure of the transfer window, the 21- year- old completed a move to KDM Group East End Park on a season- long loan from Blackpool.

Stirling- born Moffat moved to the English League One outfit last August from Celtic, with whom he won the League Cup in 2021, having progressed through their youth system.

His switch to the Seasiders, having signed a three- year deal, saw him initially link- up with their development squad, but a lack of opportunities with their first team opened the door for a loan move - and positive words from former Hoops team- mate Ewan Otoo persuaded him to join Dunfermline.

Moffat, who made his debut from the bench in Saturday’s draw with Inverness Caledonian Thistle, told Press Sport: “Towards the end of last season I didn’t really get many minutes with the first team, so I thought there would be some meeting towards the end.

“I had spoken to Stephen Dobbie, my coach, and he had said there would probably be an opportunity to go on loan. As soon as he said that, I thought about Dunfermline, because of my friends here - Ewan and Ben Summers.

“Obviously, Ben signed later on, but Ewan was always telling me about how big the club was, how good it was, and since I’ve come in, I’ve loved it.

“I’d been in the same team as Ewan since I was nine, we’ve been at high school together, so I’ve known him for a good 10 years at least.

“I left Celtic last summer, but we always kept in touch and I came to watch him once or twice, against Airdrie, at Airdrie’s stadium.

“I always knew that it was a big club and then I was speaking to Ewan in the first few weeks of the window, and he was saying ‘ do you think it’ll happen? Do you know what’s going on?’.

“I think the gaffer had spoken to him and asked about me, what I was like as a player, and it moved on from there.”

Moffat joined his boyhood favourites Celtic at the age of seven and went on to progress to their first- team, making his debut in a win over Ross County in December 2021. A week later, then Hoops boss, Ange Postecoglou, brought him off the bench as they lifted the League Cup against Hibernian, before making his first start three days later against St Mirren.

That, however, was his last top team appearance for the Glasgow giants before moving south, with Moffat now hoping to enjoy a new lease of life with Dunfermline.

“I did have other options. I was in training with Hamilton for a week, and I played a game with them, but I knew there was a possibility of Dunfermline being interested,” he said.

“That progressed, and Dunfermline wanted me to come in and train. I came here, trained, and as soon as I came here, I wanted to get the deal done because I loved it. I’ve really enjoyed from the moment I stepped in. The boys have been really nice with me.”

Manager James McPake, who revealed that the club were in talks to try and sign Moffat last year, said: “He wanted to try his chances in English football, which I completely understood last season when we were in talks with him.

“He’s went down there and, for whatever reason, it’s not quite worked so far. He’s still got a couple of years left at Blackpool, but we’re delighted to get him in.

“He’s very direct, he’s a goal threat and he can carry the ball. He showed all that on Saturday in his brief appearance.

“We’re looking forward to working with him.”