Dundee new boy Rhys Weston is relishing being reunited with his family and aims to repay gaffer Gordon Chisholm with a title triumph.
The Welsh star admits he went through personal hell last season when his wife and young son moved back to Lanarkshire while he was still playing for English outfit Walsall, travelling back up north whenever possible just to be with them.
Before long the constant commuting took its toll on the 29-year-old, who strolled through his Dundee debut in Saturday’s 3-0 home Co-operative Insurance Cup win over Montrose.
Weston had longed for a switch to Scotland so insists he owes Dens Park boss Chisholm big-time for finally handing him a much sought-after move north of the border.
Weston, whose brother-in-law is Rangers keeper Neil Alexander, said, “The past 18 months haven’t been easy at all as my family moved back up to Scotland during that time.
“My wife Kay and son Connor live in Uddingston and are the most important people in my life.
“So I did a lot of travelling last season when I was at Walsall which was far from ideal.
“At times it was really tough being away from them. It’s not the sort of thing you would wish to go through again.
“Now it’s just nice to be able to go home every night after training and be with them.
“I’ve been trying to get a move to the Scottish league for the past while but it had been proving more difficult than I had imagined with so many cuts across the board.Payback time”Now I have Gordon Chisholm and Billy Dodds to thank for giving me this opportunity. I want to pay them back this season.”
Dundee were rarely tested by Montrose who gave it their best shot for long spells against the first division favourites. Dundee made the breakthrough thanks to Nicky Riley’s chip over keeper Sandy Wood in 32 minutes.
Riley grabbed the glory with a fine double, his second late on being a fizzing volley after Leigh Griffiths had added a second from the penalty spot midway through the second half.
Former Cardiff stopper Weston admits he had a whirlwind 24 hours but was simply glad to go through it all, having feared at one stage he might have to pursue an alternative career.
Weston, who was on trial during pre-season with Motherwell, said, “It’s been hectic but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
“I played the Tuesday before at Forfar and then had a couple of days’ training, on Thursday and Friday.
“I spoke to the management team and when I came in early Saturday morning everything was signed, sealed and delivered.
“I thoroughly enjoyed just being back playing competitively again.
“Everywhere in football the financial situation isn’t great and it wasn’t getting to that stage where I was contemplating a career change.
“The harsh reality is I don’t know much else outside football because I’ve been in the game since I was 16.
“I’ve been a bit naive in not pursuing an alternative career although I am starting to get my head around that idea now.
“My money from Walsall finished last month. Of course, everyone has bills to pay so it would have been an interesting time trying to find employment.
“But I never gave up hope because I’ve still got a lot of faith in my ability.”
Chisholm faces former club Queen of the South in this weekend’s league curtain-raiser at Dens Park and reckons they’ll be ready for the start of their promotion push.
He said, “The signs are that things are gradually coming together so I’m quite happy.
“I felt all the new lads did well, including Rhys. I had no doubts about putting in someone with his experience at such short notice.”
Links Park boss Steven Tweed felt his third division part-timers had done themselves justice on the day, after losing five goals at Peterhead the previous week.
Tweed said, “Normally there’s a gulf in class in a game like this but I don’t think that was the case. My players can take a lot from this.”