The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Goalkeeper’s move south will have net benefit
Daniel Hoban feels his move to Forfar Athletic has provided the ideal remedy to the hurt of his release by hometown club Caley Thistle.
Goalkeeper Hoban ended his 12-year association with Inverness earlier this summer, when he was among 14 players let go by the Championship club.
Although Hoban was disappointed at being released by Inverness, the 22-year-old acknowledges he would have faced an uphill battle to dislodge first choice Mark Ridgers.
Hoban is now determined to make the most of the opportunity handed to him by League One side Forfar, where he previously spent time on loan.
He said: “I kind of got it in two stages. I just had a wee feeling it wasn’t going to happen. I spoke to the manager and from that conversation it didn’t look promising.
“As soon as it came about there was still hope of reconstruction.
“The chat was that if we were in the Championship, the club couldn’t afford to justify having four goalkeepers.
“I was unfortunate that myself and Cammy Mackay were the ones out of contract, and he edged it.
“When I was finally told it was quite emotional – especially with being an Inverness fan.
“After a few days I looked at the bigger picture and if Mark Ridgers is there for another two years I’m going to struggle to break in.
“I would have loved to have stayed and been an Inverness number one in years to come, but it’s not to be.”
Hoban has struggled for game time despite several loan spells but is determined to break into the Loons side ahead of goalkeeper Marc McCallum, and feels returning to familiarity at Station Park can help bring the best out of him.
Hoban will combine football with full-time studies on a four-year sports management degree at Abertay University in Dundee.
Hoban said: “My dad, Stephen, in particular has been on the phone every day helping me find a club and get into university.
“It’s something I was looking at doing in the past couple of years, but I think this was the shove that I needed to get it going.”
“When I was finally told it was quite emotional”