Ross County manager Don Cowie says he has landed an all-action forward after completing the capture of Cliftonville striker Ronan Hale.
Hale has signed a three-year deal at Victoria Park, after the two clubs agreed an undisclosed fee.
The 25-year-old netted 50 goals in 80 appearances for the Reds, 21 of which came last season.
Hale previously spent time with Birmingham City as a youth player, but did not make the breakthrough before returning to Northern Ireland with Crusaders in 2019.
Since then, he has also had stints with St Patrick’s Athletic and Larne.
Cowie says Hale fits into the same mould as last season’s leading scorer Simon Murray, who the Staggies face a battle to keep following interest from Hibernian and Dundee.
Cowie said: “He is a goalscorer, very similar to Simon Murray in that he’s all action, a bit of a nuisance.
“He likes to play on the shoulder of defenders, and he’s got an eye for goal.
“He’s very excited. He’s been to the UK with Birmingham earlier in his career, but he’s got a young family and moved back to be with his family at that time.
“Now he’s more mature, in his mid-20s, and ready to take his career to the next level.
“He feels Ross County is a great platform for that, so I’m really looking forward to working with him.
“From what I’ve seen, he will definitely be an asset for this football club.”
Hale in place for long haul at Dingwall
Cowie is hopeful Hale will be capable of settling quickly into the Scottish Premiership – however, he insists he is taking a long-term view of the signing.
He added: “I know he’s held in high regard in Ireland, so it’s just about him taking that next step in his career.
“He sees Ross County as the perfect platform to do that.
“The challenge for him will be the other striker options we have, but I’m sure he will back himself to come in and hit the ground running.
“If we need to be slightly patient for him to adapt to full-time football, we’ll certainly do that because this deal isn’t just about the here and now.
“He has signed a long-term contract, so it’s about more than just the next couple of weeks.”
Family reasons drove Baldwin’s move back to England
Hale’s arrival comes on the same day as the Staggies confirmed skipper Jack Baldwin has left to join English League One side Northampton Town for an undisclosed fee.
The Englishman has been a big figure at the heart of the Staggies’ defence since being signed by Malky Mackay from Bristol Rovers in 2021.
The centre-half made 102 appearances for the Highlanders, chipping in with five goals and helping County secure a top-six spot in 2022.
Cowie confirmed Baldwin’s desire to move back to England drove the move, but revealed the 31-year-old indicated he was prepared to give his all for the final year of his Dingwall contract had a move not been forthcoming.
Cowie added: “Jack’s been a great player for this football club. He has led the group really well over the last three seasons, especially in the last three months in my time in the role.
“I was very grateful in terms of the way he led the group through a really challenging time.
“I’m disappointed he is leaving the football club, but sometimes it is more than football.
“I had a really good conversation with Jack. He has a young family and it got to the stage where he felt it was important he was back living in England.
“Then it is up to a club to want him and do what they need to do to get him out of our football club.
“It was a very open conversation. As much as Jack wanted to move to England, at the same time he said, if it wasn’t possible, he was here, and would give everything he could for the football club.
“He had another year on his contract and he would have stayed for that extra year.
“We said that if we got who we wanted to come in the door then it would free it up.
“With Akil Wright coming in yesterday, there was the opening for Jack to go.”
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