New Alloa keeper John Gibson says he will work hard to repay manager Barry Smith after his former Dundee boss signed him for a second time.

The talented shotstopper revealed that he knew his time at Dens Park was coming to an end because he needed to playing first team football and the arrival of former Alloa hero Scott Bain sealed his fate and he jumped at the chance to reunite with his old gaffer.

The 25-year-old admits he has a battle on is hands for the gloves at Recreation Park and thinks his former boys club friend Craig McDowall will push him all the way.

Gibson told Advertiser sport, “I am delighted to be at Alloa because I have heard a lot about the club before coming here and I can’t wait to get started now. Obviously Craig McDowall is also here at the club and I know from playing together when we were younger that he is a top keeper and that I will have to fight hard to earn the number jersey.

“It is not going to be easy for either of us but I am not expecting just to walk in here and be number one. We are good mates, he is a good keeper and it will be a good dual for the gloves. Hopefully we can push each other on and form a good partnership that can help the club.

“At Dundee, I knew my time was up because I need to be playing games at this stage in my career and I am thankful to Barry Smith for giving me the opportunity to earn that here.

“From my first day of being here, I can tell how professional and well run at club it is and I am looking forward to doing my bit now and hopefully I can prove to the manager and everyone else that I can be a number one goalkeeper here.

“I got on great with Barry from our time at Dundee together so I jumped at the chance to reunite with him here at Alloa.” Gibson (pictured) also revealed that he snubbed other clubs in lower divsions to sign on with the Wasps because the chance to shine in an exciting SPFL Championship was just too good to turn down.

He said, “Obviously, being part of a special SPFL Championship was a big draw as well for me. I had other offers from clubs in the lower leagues but the Championship is the place to be this year and is the one everyone is talking about.

“It is an exciting thought for the whole squad to look forward to games at Easter Road, Ibrox and Tynecastle so we just can’t wait to get started now. It is good for the players to showcase themselves at this kind of level.” The Wasps new boy has been impressed by the quality of the squad at Recreation Park and believes they have enough to shrug off their early season relegation favourites tag.

Gibson added, “I think from first impressions the level of quality we have here at the club will see us do really well and play to a really good standard.

“We will take the relegation favourites tag in our stride - it is doesn’t bother us one bit - we know what we have here and there is no reason why we can’t be right up there competing this year.”