Jags boss Stewart thrilled to secure Murray

Buckie Thistle manager Graeme Stewart is thrilled Jack Murray has opted to join the Jags permanently.

The 19-year-old defender was released by Ross County last month and has agreed a two-year contract with Buckie.

Murray had his second loan spell with the Jags last season. Stewart is pleased he will be back permanently and reckons he could step up to fulltime football again in the future.

He said: “This situation hasn’t helped a lot of players at full-time clubs and they’ve been released.

“We weren’t sure if we were going to be able to get Jack because there were other clubs interested.

“He’s a class act and a level above Highland League”

“He’s a class act and he’s a level above Highland League which is exactly the type of player you want to sign.

“There’s three or four boys with us that could step up and play at a higher level and Jack is definitely one of them.

“When I was speaking to him about joining I said he’s probably played 40 or 50 games in the Highland League and if he has another couple of seasons with us then he’ll get that again and he’ll still only be 21.

“There’s a list of players who have stepped up to full-time after time in the Highland League, players like Ross Tokely, Ritchie Hart and Paul Coutts.

“If you look down to England guys like Ian Wright and Jamie Vardy went into full-time football in their 20s.

“If he does well at Buckie then I think Jack will get an opportunity to go higher because clubs will be looking to sign young players with potential.”