Peterhead boss Jim McInally hopes the Blue Toon can benefit from the experience of new signing Paul Dixon.
Former Dundee United and Falkirk defender Dixon has signed on a one-year deal and becomes Peterhead’s third signing of the summer.
With another defender also in the pipeline, it has strengthened McInally’s options at the back, with Andy McDonald already signing a new contract and Robbie McGale joining from the University of Stirling.
Dixon, who has also played for Dundee, Huddersfield Town and Grimsby, spent the last four years with the Bairns and has also earned three international caps for Scotland.
“I think he’s a brilliant signing,” said McInally. “It gives us experience, composure and leadership qualities at the back. He’s really fit and hopefully a young 35.
“Paul can play left-back still but probably sees himself more as a centre-back now at this stage of his career. He trained with us on Tuesday and you could see that leadership; he went round all the boys and congratulated them on a good session.
“Getting Paul in and with one more to come, I’m happy where we are defensively. We’ve got good options.
“We’ve got David Wilson who can play centre-back or right-back, Andy McDonald who I actually quite like at left-back, plus Robbie McGale too. We’ve got good foundations there.”
Dixon played against Peterhead three times last season, scoring in the 2-1 home win for Falkirk in August. Overall he played 25 times for Falkirk as they missed out on the League One play-offs.
McInally will be targeting another goalkeeper following Lenny Wilson’s decision to move to Highland League side Brechin City.
Wilson joined Peterhead in 2019 after returning from America and was understudy to Greg Fleming and Brett Long during his time at Balmoor. He has left the League One side in pursuit of first-team football at Brechin.
“I said to him he’d get the gloves for the first big game on the TV against Aberdeen and if he did well, he’d be in the team,” added McInally. “I couldn’t give him any more promises than that.”
Meanwhile, midfielder Grant Savoury has completed his move to Championship side Queen’s Park.
The ex-Celtic youngster joined Peterhead on a two-year deal last Autumn but has returned to full-time football with the Spiders.
He told the Queen’s Park website: “I’m delighted to have joined the club. When I heard Queen’s Park were interested, I was very eager to get the deal over the line, so it’s very pleasing to have done that.
“It’s clearly an exciting time for the club on the back of two promotions and I’m excited to be here and excited at the prospect of helping the team have a good season in the Championship.”
