Brechin boss Darren Dods has revealed that James Dale has agreed to return to the club this season.
The influential English midfielder wrote himself into the club’s history books in the promotion play-off final against Alloa in May when he scored a stunning goal – his first for the Angus side – in a thrilling tie that ended 4-4 on aggregate.
A penalty shoot-out was required with Dale stepping up to calmly slot home the winning spot-kick to secure City an against-all-odds promotion to the Championship.
That looked as if it would be his final act in a Brechin jersey as he had made his mind up to return back down south.
Now, though, Dods’ powers of persuasion have brought about a change of heart and Dale should return to formally sign his new contract before Saturday’s pre-season friendly against Spartans at the Glebe.
The delighted manager said: “James has agreed to sign and is coming back up at the weekend.
“This is a great addition for us as he was excellent last season.
“He had gone back down south but I had hoped the lure of playing in the Championship would prove too strong.
“For the moment he is going to stay with a friend and he is on the look-out for work but it will be good to have him back.
“I have known him for a while. He was on trial at Falkirk when I was there and then he played for Stirling University while on a scholarship there.
“Dick Campbell then signed him when I was at Forfar and I snapped him up when I came to Brechin.
“We probably played him out of position in his first season but he was brilliant for us at the turn of the year in the last campaign and capped it all by scoring his first goal in the play-offs.
“James is still only 23 but he has lots of experience under his belt already and I feel he is getting better year after year. So I am absolutely delighted to have him back.”
