Busy day of magnificent seven signings at Stenhousemuir as David Hopkirk pens two-year deal

Ryan Watters and David Hopkirk are returning. Picture: Michael Gillen

Mercurial forward David Hopkirk added his name to the players returning for season 2020-21, following player of the year Graeme Smith and Swansea duo Ryan Blair and Botti Biabi and young midfielder Thomas Halleran who were announced on Friday morning.

Last season’s top scorer penned a two-year deal at Ochilview and he was not alone.

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Jonathon Tiffoney made his short-term deal with The Warriors permanent and signed for the new campaign – which is still shrouded in uncertainty with league reconstruction plans in the balance and a start date yet to be decided for League Two.

However Stenhousemuir have some certainty with a solid base for the first-team after yesterday’s signing spree which was concluded by utility man Ryan Watters’ return.

All seven returning players took the squad numbers into double figures. Greig Spence, Mark McGuigan and captain Andrew Munro were already signed for the new campaign.

Several players were announced to be leaving Ochilview however, including the retiring Gary Harkins, Scott McLaughlin and loan players including Connor McBride, Conor McBrearty and Marky Munro.

The Warriors have been out of action since a screless draw with Queen’s Park in early March when the coronavirus pandemic enforced a shutdown of Scottish football on March 13. They finished the season in eighth position in League Two.