Elgin City manager Gavin Price says he could not pass up the chance to sign England C international goalkeeper Thomas McHale on a two-year deal.
City yesterday completed the signing of McHale, who has recently relocated to Forres with his family after leaving Vanarama National League South side Truro City.
The 22-year-old has trained with Elgin in recent weeks, and despite current first choice Kyle Gourlay having impressed since joining on loan from Dundee earlier this summer, Price was keen to take advantage of the opportunity to sign the highly-rated McHale, who was linked with a move to newly-promoted Premiership side St Mirren earlier this summer.
Price said: “We have high hopes he will do well. We have had him in training, he has got good stature and he has played at a good level, so he comes with a bit of pedigree having been selected as an England C international.
“It wasn’t a position we particularly needed to fill, but we have suffered for long enough without having a goalkeeper, and always having to try and get boys on loan. We have never really had a stable goalkeeper from the Elgin area.
“It was an opportunity we couldn’t really let slip by. We have landed on our feet a wee bit as it’s a good quality goalkeeper that has signed for the club.”
Price insists McHale must bide his time, with Gourlay likely to continue between the sticks for Saturday’s League 2 home match against Edinburgh City.
Price added: “It certainly gives us options. Kyle has done extremely well since coming in, it’s certainly no reflection on how he has been doing.
“He is still holding down the number one jersey, but I would imagine we will be looking to give Thomas a start in the Arbroath game next Wednesday.”