FORMER Sauchie striker Ross Crawford says he will always be indebted to the Wee County side after sealing his move to Brechin.

The 20-year-old, who finished as Sauchie's top scorer last season, caught the eye of several clubs during his single season at Beechwood Park after joining from Camelon last summer.

He was snapped up by League 2 outfit Brechin City earlier this month – and although he was keen to make the move to Glebe Park, he said he will always owe a debt of gratitude to Sauchie for taking a chance on him.

Crawford told Advertiser Sport: "I believe my name has been in their minds about January and they have kept track of me, so they asked me to go and train at the start of pre-season.

"I said to Darren Petrie, but Sauchie still wanted me to sign. But had a clause that I could leave if a club in a higher division wanted me. I wanted to go.

"It's a step up and the match speed is a lot quicker. I played against Dundee and held my own. It's been really good and training has been good boys have been good."

The striker added: "The spell at Sauchie has helped me massively and I owe a lot. It gave me a platform I could show what I could do and gave me a decent return.

"I can't thank them enough because my time at the club has been brilliant. It got me back playing whereas I wasn't so much at Camelon. Iain [Diack] gave me game time which I needed.

"But moving to Brechin is an opportunity I feel at this stage I couldn't turn down and don't know when I might get that again. If it doesn't work out, it doesn't work out, but at least you've tried it.

"I am happy to move. The aim for us to get promoted and the top four. Hopefully, we have a good successful season and I'm able to get playing regularly and continue showing the form I showed at Sauchie."

Crawford believes working under former Sauchie boss Iain Diack – who himself turned out for Brechin, among numerous other clubs – brought him on leaps and bounds and helped develop his all-round game.

He added: "I learned so much, the main things being knowing where to be at the right times and off the ball. We weren't on it as much as I was maybe used to.

"I learned how to use my body better and to receive the ball in the box. Technically, though, I didn't change and there were just the wee minor aspects of my game which got tweaked.

"I got a real feel for scoring goals. Iain was great with us always talking to us and telling us where to go and where to be.

"I learned a lot from him and his movement and trying to replicate that. He helped me a lot as a striker so he knew what he wanted."

Crawford added: "Sauchie is such a good club run by great people. Noel [Dalli] was fantastic.

"I can't thank Darren Petrie enough for all he did – I was on the phone to him most nights just talking about the move.

"It was a great pleasure for me to wear the shirt and I'm sad I won't be there for a longer period."