Ross County yesterday signed Hartlepool United defender Darren Holden as manager Jim McIntyre’s squad rebuilding work gathered pace.
The South Africa-born 21-year-old agreed a two-year deal with the Staggies after deciding to leave the Pools, the club where he turned professional in 2012.
Holden, who made just short of 60 first-team appearances for the English League 2 outfit, is viewed as a player of great potential by McIntyre and assistant Billy Dodds.
He will provide competition at left back for established choice Jamie Reckord and a delighted McIntyre said: “We’ve been working hard to evaluate the best players available to us and Darren is a lad with a great deal of promise.
“He comes to us at a good age and I believe he will be a great acquisition for Ross County.
“He is the kind of left back who really gets up and down the pitch and he will provide strong competition to Jamie Reckord.
“I was made aware of Darren some time ago and having had him watched I feel he has all the right attributes to do really well for us.”
Along with the signing of former loan player Michael Gardyne, manager McIntyre has now signed five players for next season.
An undisclosed fee was paid to Queen of the South for midfielder Ian McShane, while Brian Graham and Scott Fox were free transfer acquisitions after leaving Dundee United and Partick Thistle.
County have been consistent in offering new recruits two-year deals with McIntyre intent on creating more stable squad foundations with far less upheaval than was evident in the past couple of seasons.
The manager added: “I’m pleased with progress so far and there will hopefully be more signings to follow in the near future.”