ST JOHNSTONE HAVE announced the signing of David McMillan on a two-and-a-half-year contract. The striker will officially join the Scottish Premiership club when the transfer window opens in January.
McMillan has spent the past four seasons at Dundalk, with whom he won three SSE Airtricity League Premier Division titles, one FAI Cup and two League [EA Sports] Cups.
“David’s a player I’ve known for quite some time and I knew he was coming out of contract and felt the time was right to make a move,” St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright told the club’s official website.
“He’s scored all types of goals — left foot, right foot, headers — and he’s done it at various levels including European club football, so he has experience of a higher level than just League of Ireland. He’s a hard worker, a good age and without doubt capable of making the step-up.”
After scoring 23 goals in all competitions for Dundalk in 2017, McMillan’s contract expired following the Lilywhites’ defeat to Cork City in last month’s FAI Cup final.
The 28-year-old Dubliner, who also worked part-time as an architect, joined Dundalk from Sligo Rovers for the 2014 season. He netted five times in last season’s Champions League campaign and was on target again in this year’s tie against Rosenborg.
McMillan’s departure is certainly a blow to Dundalk, but manager Stephen Kenny has already brought in a couple of promising replacements. Patrick Hoban has returned to the club following a spell in England and Ronan Murray has joined from Galway United.
McMillan took to Twitter this afternoon to show his appreciation to his former club. He said: “A huge thank you to everyone at Dundalk FC for four incredible years. I could never have anticipated the success we have enjoyed over that time.
“I have experienced so many incredible nights that I will never forget and I would like to thank everyone at Dundalk; not just all the players and coaching staff I have had the pleasure of working with, but all the fans who have travelled far and wide to support us. Thank you!
“I move onto a new chapter in my career now with St Johnstone, one I am very excited about. It’s a new challenge and I can’t wait to get started.”
St Johnstone are currently in seventh place in the Scottish Premiership.
Go far, dundalk will miss you, best of luck
“Capable of making the step up” dont make me laugh..
@ARZE BANDITO: you talking about yoursrlf?
@ARZE BANDITO: As much as I respect and support the LOI, I still would agree that playing in a fully full-time pro league is a step up. I mean St Johnstone is in the bottom three clubs for average attendance, but they still get 4,900 on average! The top three clubs average 45,000 attendance! While Oriel Park is utterly woeful, both playing surface and stadium. There’s just no comparison. When the likes of Dembele and Griffiths are running at him he’ll know exactly the step up involved.
@ARZE BANDITO: spl probably on par with league two in England, if even.
@ARZE BANDITO: Of course he’s capable, have you ever even watched the man play?! He’s scored against teams superior to your average SPL team. Not to mention the fact that LOI sides have beaten SPL sides on more than one occasion in European competition in the past decade. The SPL, if you take out Celtic, is the equivalent of League One.
@William Motley: you’ve clearly never watched either the SPFL or league 2.
@Colm O’Sullivan: agree, he’s class, but not on his own, ref spl, our top loi teams are on a par with most, bar celtic, his.
Great servant to Dundalk. Gave all LOI fans some great memories.
I’d prefer to stay with Dundalk than move to St J.
@Whatshisname: I don’t think that’ll ever be a problem.
@Whatshisname: spoof.
Wish the lad well , only one to hold him back is himself ?