Rothes have signed Clachnacuddin midfielder Fraser Robertson on an 18-month deal for a nominal fee.
Robertson, who was the Lilywhites’ player of the year last season, was due to be out of contract at Grant Street Park this summer but Rothes manager Steven MacDonald has moved early to secure him on a deal until 2020.
Robertson was handed his senior breakthrough by his hometown club, who Rothes host on Saturday. The 23-year-old is likely to miss out on facing Brian MacLeod’s men due to a knee injury however.
The 23-year-old is excited by the fresh challenge that awaits with the Speysiders once he regains match fitness, and he said: “Clachnacuddin is where I first started in the Highland League about four seasons ago. I came through the youth system, so to make my way up through there and start most weeks has been really good for me.
“When I had been at Clach so long it would have been easy to stay there, but I’m excited to be coming to Rothes. I’m just really looking to push on and keep improving.
“The manager has been really good, everything sounds really promising at Rothes. He says they have got a lot of attack-minded players, and I definitely feel I can bring something to that, but he has also mentioned they don’t have many left-sided players in the team so I feel I can help with that too.
“From speaking to Steven and his assistant Gordon Connelly, they seem to be very ambitious and have set a lot of challenges. I’m happy to be part of that and hopefully I can help them achieve that.
“Coming in now allows me to ease myself back to proper match fitness, and then be raring to go next season.”
MacDonald is pleased to succeed in his long pursuit of Robertson, having been impressed by his hunger to make the move to Mackessack Park.
He added: “We have been chasing Fraser most of the season. Midfield was a position we were trying to improve on, and Fraser is a young boy at a good age, with a lot of energy.
“He can score goals and is good on the ball, and has a lot of the attributes we are looking for, but it was mainly the fact he was keen and showed a lot of desire.
“We have had a couple of transfers that have not gone our way this year so we are looking to come in and make a difference – not just come through for a few extra quid.
“Hopefully Fraser has that attitude that a couple of others have not.”
