On loan youngsters make move permanent

The ‘Loons’ can tonight confirm the signing on one year contracts of both Adam Hutchinson and Darren Watson both of whom spent the second half of last season at Station Park on a temporary transfer from their then parent club Dundee United.

Both players were advised by the Tannadice management that their contracts which are due to expire at the end of the current month would not be extended.

Despite interest from clubs elsewhere they have both decided that their immediate footballing future will be with Forfar Athletic.

Adam was a big hit with the support in the second half of the season holding down a regular berth in the centre of the Athies defence. The 20 year old eventually made 15 starting appearances as well as one from the bench.

Adam who hails from Alva in Clackmannanshire came through the academy system at United signing as a professional in 2020.
Apart from his spell on loan at Forfar, he also had short stints with Lowland League Stirling University, Dumbarton and our near neighbours Montrose.

Manager Ray McKinnon obviously sees Adam continuing as a vital cog in the defensive department at Station Park in the forthcoming season.

Darren’s loan spell with the ‘Loons’ was interrupted by an injury received while in fact playing in a bounce game with United, his starting appearances limited to two in number alongside four from the subs bench.

Ray nevertheless is convinced that a fully fit Darren will play a big part in the season ahead in a forward role for the Station Park outfit.

A Fifer Darren hails from Methilhill and was involved in the Fife Elite Academy before moving over the Tay in 2015 to the elite performance football programme at St. John’s in Dundee and also to United.

Like Adam he signed his first professional contract in 2020 and had a spell on loan to hometown club East Fife in 2022.

A warm welcome back to Adam and Darren, both of whom participated in the ‘Loons’ first pre-season training session tonight ahead of our opening friendly fixture at Montrose on Friday the 30th of the month.