It has been confirmed today that Ross County's forward Michael Gardyne has signed a pre-contract agreement with the Tannadice Club.
Gardyne is currently contracted to Ross County until the end of this season and he will fulfil this contract and continue to play for the remainder of this season.
The news, which has been speculated about for the last few days, was confirmed on the Official Dundee Utd website earlier today. Shortly afterwards Michael Gardyne posted on his twitter Account
"Thanks to every1 for there kind messages, very much appreciated. Delighted to have my future sorted"
He followed this tweet with another saying
"I'm 100% committed to Ross County for the rest of the season and the goals we are trying to achieve as a team."
Speaking about the summer departure of Gardyne, County's manager Derek Adams said,
Speaking about filling the void that will be left by Gardyne, he said -It's a great opportunity for Michael.. this club gives players a platform to perform... he has been a good servant for 5 years.There is no doubt he will be with us until the end of the season, he will be pivotal in the campaign.
We already have players at the club in Sam Morrow and Kurtis Byrne who are ready to fill the void....
People said it would be difficult to replace the likes of Mark McCulloch, Alex Keddie and Andy Barrowman, but we have managed to relace them.
I am waiting for the board to give me the go-ahead to speak to players about new contracts, I know the players I want to keep, but as with every other team, we are trying to work with a tight budget.
Michael Gardyne has been a great servant to Ross County over the two spells he's had at the club. Firstly being on loan for a season from Celtic, he was given his chance to break into senior football and won his first of three winners medals with County as County won the Challenge Cup. but relegation for County at the end of the season saw the majority of the players leave, including Gardyne who who returned to Celtic, but the following season went on loan again, this time to Morton.
However, for some reason, he never got a chance with the Cappilow team, and his apperances for them were few and far between. His loan spell at Cappilow wasn't extended so he returned to County for a second loan spell in January 2008.
County's season in the Second Division was a memorable one, and by April that year Gardyne had earned his second winners medal with County - this time a Second Division Championship medal.
The follwoing season though, there were to be no winners medals, although County were to reach the final of the Challenge, but lost out to Airdie Utd following a penalty shoot-out.
Season 2009/10 was another trophyless season, but again there was a cup final apperance, this time the Scottish Cup final where County were beaten by Dundee Utd - however Gardyne had a pivitol role in that cup campaign, and none more so than his two goals against Hibs at Easter Road in the Quarter Finals.
Season 2010/11 saw Micael Gardyne win his third winners trophy, again the the Challenge Cup, after County beat Queen of the South 2-0.
Since County entered the Scottish Football League in 1994, they have won four competitions, and I feel that it is no surprise that Michael Gardyne was a major player in three of those teams. Lets hope before he leaves us this summer he can add at least a fourth winners medal to his collection ! (or a fifth if we can do a league and Scottish Cup double !)
