Montrose boss Stewart Petrie has expressed his delight after snapping up veteran midfielder Martyn Fotheringham for next season.
The Links Park boss oversaw a signing spree on Monday night with no fewer than 12 players putting pen to paper.
The manager himself also agreed to a six-month contract extension with Petrie admitting he was determined to have the nucleus of his squad for the next campaign in place sooner rather than later.
And he is particularly looking forward to working once again with “Foxy” Fotheringham.
The midfielder, who helped Forfar win promotion this season and has just enjoyed his testimonial year with the club, is someone Petrie knows well from his own time at Station Park.
The manager said: “Foxy still has lots to offer without a shadow of a doubt.
“You just had to see him in the play-offs for Forfar where he was instrumental to their success.
“His ability has never been in question and he will be a fantastic addition.
“We will have to manage him carefully but Foxy will bring that creative spark.
“He has bags of experience and is a great lad as well.
“I have worked with him before and I know what he will bring to Montrose both on and off the park.
“We are looking to bring in players with the right character that will help take us in the right direction and Foxy fits that mould.”
Petrie made a total of four new signings on Monday and handed out eight contract extensions. That saw the Gable Endies squad size for the upcoming campaign increase to 16.
The manager said: “It all worked out perfectly. We had agreed a lot of the deals beforehand and it was just a case of all the lads coming along to the Apex Hotel and putting pen to paper.
“It was great to get them on board and to do most of our business early.
“We are still looking to add to the squad but it is pleasing to have the nucleus in place.”
Meanwhile, Montrose chairman John Crawford paid tribute to Petrie and the job he has done since he took over as manager at the club in December.
He said: “Stewart has done brilliantly since joining us, exceeding our expectations.
“Taking the club to our first promotion play-off in nine years was a remarkable achievement, given where we were when he arrived.
“He is settling really well into his first senior managerial position and we are therefore delighted he has agreed to extend his contract until the summer of 2019.”
Montrose also confirmed that Chris Hegarty, Kieran McWalter, Gregor Anderson, Declan Milne, Kyle McLeod and Lloyd Hester have all been released.
