Stirling Albion striker Andy Ryan this week left the club to join Hamilton Accies on a two-year deal.
The 26-year-old was the Binos’ top scorer last term, contributing 10 goals and seven assists in 19 League 2 appearances. He was also on target against Arbroath in the League Cup on his debut and Berwick Rangers in the Scottish Cup on Boxing Day.
His double in the 5-1 thrashing of Cowdenbeath at Central Park on April 17 turned out to be his last goals for the club and he missed the final game of the season against Stranraer after suffering an ankle injury in the defeat at Elgin City.
Ryan joined Stirling from Dunfermline Athletic last summer in something of a transfer coup and has also previously played for Airdrieonians and Forfar Athletic. He signed a new deal at Forthbank in the spring but now returns to New Douglas Park, where he began his career as a youngster, and will hope to help Brian Rice’s team
return to the Premiership at the first attempt.
The move happened on Monday and a Stirling Albion statement said: “A release clause, subject to a move to full-time football and agreement being reached on a transfer fee, was included in Andy’s contract with Stirling Albion for season 2021/22.”
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The forward came through Accies’ youth system and made close on 100 appearances in his first spell with the Lanarkshire club before a switch to Forfar in January 2016.
He told the Hamilton Academical website: “I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Stirling. I was playing and scoring regularly, and I have learned that is what football is all about. Coming here I have challenged myself to keep getting games and scoring goals.”
Binos boss Kevin Rutkiewicz can still count on Dylan Mackin, Dylan Bikey, Sean Heaver, and recent signing Dale Carrick from Airdrie in the forward areas but Ryan, who was named in the SPFL League 2 Team of the Year, will be a hard act to follow.
Rutkiewicz said: “It’s obviously disappointing to lose Andy. I expected to have him with us for next season but, even without Andy, I feel we have a strong squad and good players want to come to this club.
“We will look to add to the squad and Andy moving on frees up a wage and also brings in a transfer fee, which is not something the club have had very often.”
Albion continued their preparations for 2021/22 with a 5-0 win over East of Scotland outfit Tynecastle FC in a bounce game at Stirling University on Saturday.
Stirling were back in friendly action at Whitburn last night (Tuesday) and take on Max Christie’s Bo’ness United at Newtown Park this Saturday before the real stuff gets under way at Cove Rangers in the Premier Sports Cup on Saturday, July 10.
