SCOTT TO LIGHT UP THE LEAGUE
Binos’ gaffer hails new signing
Stirling Albion manager Kevin Rutkiewicz is delighted to have made winger Scott Roberts his fifth signing of the summer.
The former Rangers youth player last week put pen to paper at Forthbank after leaving Albion Rovers, having also previously played for Raith Rovers, Annan Athletic and Elgin City.
The 24-year-old joins strikers Andy Ryan and Declan Byrne, winger Kieran Moore and midfielder Kurtis Roberts at the club ahead of the 2020/21 season, which begins in October.
The Binos now have 17 first-team players signed up, with academy graduates Sandy Carey, Martin France and Will Greenhorn taking the squad size to 20 and Rutkiewicz is still looking to add at least one more ahead of a return to training next month, with the Betfred Cup to follow in early October.
He said: “I think it’s a real good capture for us. We are getting an out-and-out wide man with Scott.
“He is extremely technical – he’s not aggressive but he has good pace and great vision. One of the standout partnerships in League 2 last season for me was the way he linked up with Declan Byrne and that did play a part in me bringing Scott to the club once we had Declan.
“I spoke to Scott early on but we also had to weigh up who else was out there. He has turned down a lot more money to come to us and that desire to be involved in this environment is important to me.
He was adamant that he wanted to come here.
“He can score goals and has a fantastic final pass. He came through the system at Rangers and has the technical ability to play at least in the Championship – obviously you need other ingredients as well – but he is champing at the bit and has a desire and hunger to get going.”
The boss added: “I worked with Scotty at Annan but he is now fitter physically and stronger than he has ever been. He’s a good age at 24 and I believe he could light up this league. He can play on both wings and it’s the same with Kieran Moore, so we have great flexibility there.
“Scott can also play in the hole behind the strikers but I think he is better on the outside of a game coming into it. He likes that space and is very good at travelling with the ball – he uses his body well to beat people.
“We are just about there in terms of the squad – we are probably one short – and we are working on things at the moment. I was in the market to sign quality and I believe we have done that.”
Rutkiewicz has confirmed that Stirling were interested in signing Danny Swanson, who last week joined East Fife on a two-year deal after leaving St Johnstone.
The 33-year-old winger can count Dundee United, Hearts and Hibernian among his former clubs but has now opted to move to parttime football.
Rutkiewicz said: “I spoke to Danny and I think we were second in the running. Other clubs were also interested and East Fife have offered him a longer contract. They also train in Edinburgh, which is where he is based, so I think that was attractive for him as well.
“We were obviously interested and we spoke a few times. He had heard good things about Stirling but how close we came in the end I don’t know.”