Mark Stewart signs

Mark Stewart(Image from Kilmarnock FC)

Derry City are delighted to announce the signing of Mark Stewart, with the striker agreeing a one year deal to join the Candystripes.

The 25 year old striker. has agreed a deal at the Brandywell having been recently released by Kilmarnock.  The  Glasgow native started his professional career at Falkirk, making 77 appearances and scoring 19 goals. He then moved on to to Bradford City in the English League Two, where he made 12 appearances before he returned to Scotland, this time with Dundee. In 2013 he left Dundee and after a brief loan spell at Luton Town he joined Kilmarnock in August 2013.  However he was released by the Scottish club in January and after impressing boss Roddy Collins whilst on trial, the striker has opted to cross the Irish sea to ply his trade in the Airtrcity Premier Division.

 

Speaking after signing, Mark had this to say:

“I’m over the moon to have signed for Derry City. I was invited over for some pre-season training by Roddy a couple of weeks ago and all went very well. I was very impressed with the management team’s enthusiasm and the professional nature of the club. If I’m honest I have never really seen the League of Ireland but from training with the lads for a week I’m very impressed with the quality of the entire squad.

There seems to be a great mixture of senior and youth players and they have all helped me feel part of the squad. Obviously as a striker you are judged on goals and with Rory being last season’s top goalscorer the pressure is on me to meet those standards.

The draw of Europa League football was also a big factor, I missed out playing in the competition a few years ago due to injury and this is the year I get to put that behind me.

I’m looking forward to moving over to Derry next week and a new chapter will start then. I can’t wait to be part of it”

According to Derry City Manager Roddy Collins, “Mark came to us through a very reliable source that has been very good in the past so I knew what I was going to get

During his trial with us I was very impressed with his enthusiasm and his attitude.

He has tremendous pace and skill which was exactly what I was looking for. He’s a great lad that fitted in with the squad as soon as he arrived.  As far as I’m  concerned he ticked all the boxes for me and Mark will get better and better as the season goes on.

 

Stewart is Collins fifth signing since taking charge of the Candystripes following Roddy Collins Junior, Enda Curran, Danny Ventre and Ciaran Gallagher to Brandywell.

We will have more reaction from the training ground tomorrow on DCFC Online.

 

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