Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Lewis aims to take his Dee chance
AFTER a frustrating final two years of his time at Dunfermline, Lewis Spence could have been forgiven for biting off Brechin boss Darren Dods’ hand when he offered the 21-year-old a contract for the coming season.
Two successful loan spells at Glebe Park meant the midfielder knew if he’d accepted the chance of a permanent switch there, first-team football would have been virtually guaranteed.
And having been in the wilderness at East End Park pretty much since the moment Allan Johnston arrived as manager, getting a regular game has become a priority.
But when the chance to j oin Dundee instead came up, even though he knew that would mean a battle for game time, Spence jumped at it.
The fact he would be teaming up with former mentor Neil McCann did, he admits, have a lot to do with the speed with which he made his decision.
And now he’s determined to use his opportunity to kickstart his career.
“I’m buzzing, it wasn’t expected and I just want to take my chance and make the most of it,” he said.
“I’d like to thank Dundee and Neil, who got me this deal, because it’s a big opportunity for me, to be in the Premiership with a massive club like Dundee.
“I was in talks with Brechin because I had been on loan there a couple of times and enjoyed it. They’ve been promoted, so I wouldn’t have been dropping down a league.
“I felt I needed some game time and going there would have been a good move for me but then Neil got the job here and gave me a phone.
“It took a couple of weeks or so to sort out but he said he wanted me on board and would give me a season to show I’m good enough and my mind was made up right away.
“He’s been with me before at Dunfermline. He knows what I can do and got the best out of me before, so I’m happy to be working with him again.”