Stenhousemuir sign Swansea duo and extend Halleran deal

Swansea City duo Botti Biabi and Ryan Blair will be back at Stenhousemuir next season – joined by youth academy product Thomas Halleran.

Both Biabi and Blair had signed for the Warriors in the second half of the season last term and have each agreed to return to Ochilview for a year.

The duo broke through the Academy ranks at Falkirk and played under Peter Houston before being sold on to Swansea City, following the well trodden path and moves made by both Jay Fulton and Stephen Kingsley before them.

But without a first-team opportunity Blair returned north to Dunfermline on loan and Biabi to Hamilton before both wound up at the Warriors last term.

Ryan Blair and Botti Biabi in 2016 - playing for Swansea reserves against Falkirk. Picture: Michael Gillen.

They’ll be joined by another locally trained youth player – the highly-rated Thomas Halleran – who has gradually cemented a place with the Warriors midfield after a series of eye-catching displays. The 20-year-old made the move into the squad from Forth Valley Academy.

They follow Graeme Smith in signing on for Davie Irons’ side and several more signings are anticipated over the coming days as preparation for a potential restart of training begins.

However Stenhousemuir have lost experienced duo Gary Harkins and Scott McLaughlin as well as Kyle Marley, Abdel Massouagoo, Robert Wilson and Aidan McIlduff.

Loan signings such as Connor McBride, Marky Munro and Conor Mcbrearty are also returning to their parent clubs.