Swans sign Scotland from Saints.
By: BBC Sports News.[/size]
Jason Scotland has agreed a two-year deal with the Welsh club Swansea City have signed St Johnstone's Trinidad and Tobago striker Jason Scotland on a two-year deal, subject to a new work permit being granted. The 28-year-old scored 26 goals in 46 games for the Scottish club last term.
The Swans have paid a nominal fee to secure Scotland's early release from his contract with the First Division side which was due to expire in August.
SPL sides Hibernian, Dundee United and Hearts, plus Birmingham and Southend were all interested in Scotland.
Swansea manager Roberto Martinez was delighted to announce the League One club's first new signing since the end of the season.
"I'm not surprised that there has been a lot of interest in Jason from a number of clubs, especially as he was due to become a free agent in August," Martinez told the club website.
"Goal-scorers are the most precious commodity in football and I believe we've persuaded a quality striker to join us. Jason Scotland is an exciting player who always entertains and attracts the crowds - and players like that are a rare breed.
Swans boss Roberto Martinez.
"He is a striker with all-round ability which will enable him to play in a number of roles that gives us different options.
"Jason has a magic touch and can make something happen out of nothing.
"He's an exciting player who always entertains and attracts the crowds - and players like that are a rare breed."
Scotland will link up with country man Kevin Austin and T&T team-mate Dennis Lawrence at the Liberty Stadium, who had no hesitation in giving Martinez a glowing report about the striker.
"Jason seems a very reliable character and if he's anything like Dennis he will be disciplined and a model pro. I'm really excited about working with him," Martinez added.
Scotland started his career in Trinidad & Tobago with San Juan Jabloteh and Defence Force, the same team that Lawrence played for before making the move to Wrexham.
Dundee United signed Scotland in August 2003 after impressing manager Ian McCall by scoring both goals for T&T in a 2-1 friendly win at Tannadice.
He made an immediate impact by scoring five times in his first nine starts in the SPL before being forced to return to Trinidad in 2005 after his application for a work permit renewal was turned down.
However, Scotland had an application to play for St Johnstone approved and did enough to warrant a place in Trinidad and Tobago's 2006 World Cup squad.
Martinez, who still has strong links with former club Motherwell, has not ruled out dipping into the Scottish market again to strengthen his squad.
The Swans have already been linked with moves for St Mirren's John Sutton and David van Zanten.
Sutton is out of contract at the end of the season and has yet to agree terms with the Scottish Premier League side, although Falkirk are interested in the front man. Defender van Zanten has a year left on his contract.
Scotland flies to Swans.
By: Perthshire Advertiser.Jason Scotland admits he’ll miss his adopted homeland. The Swansea-bound attacker has lapped-up life on Tayside during spells with Dundee United and St Johnstone.
But next month the World Cup striker will return from a Caribbean break to begin the next chapter of his career in Wales.
His agent, Mike Berry, yesterday told PA Sport: “Jason has enjoyed it in Perth and he’ll miss the guys at McDiarmid Park. The fans have been great to him and he appreciates how much Owen Coyle did to look after him.
“Obviously he’s very excited about the move but he is also sad to be leaving Scotland. Jason loved his time with St Johnstone. But he has his career to think of and this is a good move for him.
“Jason is wishing everyone at St Johnstone all the best and hopes they get promotion next season.”
Berry, who is hopeful that the work permit won’t prove a stumbling block, confirmed late interest from Hibs but insisted a return to Tannadice was ruled out by the player earlier in the season when manager Craig Levein indicated Scotland wasn’t his type of striker.
Berry insisted it came down to a straightforward choice between Hibs and Swansea.
“We had three concrete offers. Hibs came in at the 11th hour with a better deal than United. I had talks with Eddie Thompson the Dundee United chairman back in January and he was very keen on Jason. But things changed when Craig Brewster was sacked and Craig Levein came in.
“I remember Eddie saying his new manager had indicated Jason wasn’t his type of player. I said he wanted to try Specsavers. Then co-incidentally just days after Jon Daly was injured United’s interest was revived. Maybe Craig had gone to Specsavers after all! But we didn’t think of going back to United after that.”
Ex-Saints centre Graeme Jones is assistant to manager Roberto Martinez at Swansea. Scotland joins-up with international pals Kevin Austin and Dennis Lawrence.
Scotland told media outlets in Trinidad: “I want to say thanks to St Johnstone for showing faith in me and allowing me to be part of their plans for the last couple of seasons.
“Without playing there I may not have this chance. Hopefully I can make good use of this opportunity. The manager felt that I could add something to the club and I am looking forward to continuing the kind of form I had Scotland last season.”
Martinez, the one-time Motherwell player, said: “I'm not surprised that there was a lot of interest in Jason from a number of clubs, especially as he was due to become a free agent in August.
"Goalscorers are the most precious commodity in football and I believe we've persuaded a quality striker to join us. Jason Scotland is an exciting player who always entertains and attracts the crowds – and players like that are a rare breed.
“He is a striker with all-round ability which will enable him to play in a number of roles. That gives us different options. Jason has a magic touch and can make something happen out of nothing. Jason seems a very reliable character and if he's anything like Dennis he will be disciplined and a model pro. I'm really excited about working with him."
A nominal fee has been thrashed out with Saints, who stood to lose Scotland for nothing in August, and managing director Stewart Duff commented: “It would appear Swansea have agreed terms with Jason and they can now go ahead with applying for a work permit. That would enable them to sign Jason.”
Scotland gets permit.
…off to Sweden with new club.
By: Shaun Fuentes (TTFF).Trinidad and Tobago striker Jason Scotland officially became a Swansea City player on Wednesday after being granted a new work permit by the home office in England.
Scotland will join his new teammates on Wednesday for a preseason tour of Sweden, taking up a two year contract with the option of a one year extension. A tour to Holland will then follow before the start of the season which he will play alongside countryman Dennis Lawrence in Swansea colours.
Scotland’s agent Mike Berry was a relieved man as the former Defence Force player had to await a one-hour hearing in London attended by Swansea City manager Roberto Martinez, general manager Alun Cowie, chief scout Kevin Reeves and Berry.
“" I am delighted for Scotty as he has battled through the setback of 2 years ago and shown true warrior spirit to establish himself as the most exciting player in League 1 football in Scotland for the last 2 years. Lesser players would have quit, given up and gone back home.He now has a platform to establish himself in English League 1 and hopefully get into the Championship with his new club in their new 20,000 seater stadium and passionate fan base,” Berry told TTFF Media on Wednesday.
“In my opinion he is good enough to go all the way to the top and I am proud to have him as a client and he is a credit to T&T and his family. On a personal note this is the 18th successful work permit I have organised for T&T players and look forward to many more as I carry on doing while others talk,” Berry affirmed.
Scotland who will wear the number nine shirt was simply looking ahead to beginning his time on English soil.
“It’s a relief really and now I can go on to further my career. I’m obviously excited to join my new club. It’s a new challenge and I intend to grasp it fully. Hats off to my agent Mike as well who has been superb for me. He had a tough period when he was in hospital recently but he kept with it and if it hadn’t been for him this permit may not have come through at this point. So thanks to him and now I just have to look ahead and do what is required on the pitch,” Scotland told TTFF Media on Wednesday.
Making the switch to English football has always been Scotland’s ambition.
“I have always wanted to play in England and now that this opportunity has been given to me I’m looking to make the most of it. I hope I can settle in well at the club and continue where I left off at St Johnstone. I want to thank the club (St Johnstone) there for giving me a chance when I couldn’t get the previous work permit and they allowed me to join them and I was able to score goals to help the club.I want to do the same for Swansea now,” he ended.
Martinez too was delighted to have Scotland’s position safe after he had been previously denied while at Dundee before his move to St Johnstone in 2005.
"It's absolutely fantastic news. We had a very good hearing; very professional. We were all delighted to hear the positive outcome and I am already excited about working with him. He will be a quality acquisition to our squad. Goalscorers are the most precious commodity in football and I believe we've captured one of the highest calibre. As I said before, he has a magic touch and can make something out of nothing. He will certainly entertain and excite the crowds at the Liberty Stadium and beyond,” Martinez said.
The former Malick Senior Comprehensive player scored 26 goals for St Johnstone last season to take his overall tally at McDiarmid Park to 33 goals in 66 League appearances. He was named on the Scottish Division One “Team of the Year” last season and was also a member of T&T’s 2006 World Cup squad.
Scotland Interview.
swanseacity.premiumtv.co.ukSwansea City new boy Jason Scotland has revealed how big Dennis Lawrence played a major factor in persuading him to sign on at the Liberty Stadium.
After a whirlwind fortnight that saw the striker granted a new work permit to sign for the Swans; get married; and then leave his new wife to join a squad of strangers on a gruelling pre-season training camp in Sweden; Scotland was looking forward to life in a Swansea City shirt.
In his first interview since completing his move from Scottish side St Johnstone on a two-year deal, Scotland spoke about his respect for Swans defender and fellow Trinidad & Tobago defender Dennis Lawrence and the relief when his work permit was finally granted.
"I was relieved when the news finally came through that my application was accepted,'' explained Scotland. "After what happened to me at Dundee United when my work permit was turned down, I knew anything could happen.
"I had set my mind on coming to Swansea, so I would have been devastated if it didn't happen.''
Scotland revealed that talk of a move to Swansea had happened as far back as Christmas time.
"I don't really know exactly how it happened,'' he added. "I knew Dennis was here, Swansea needed a striker and we share the same agent. I suppose all those things came together.
"The first person I turned to for advice was obviously Dennis. We are good pals from our days together with T&T and I've got the utmost respect for him.
"He told me Swansea was a massive club; had a fantastic stadium; tremendous support; was in a nice area and the players were a great bunch of lads.
"He couldn't speak highly enough about the club - and that was good enough for me. Then when I came down to have a look at the stadium I was more than impressed.''
Having secured his work permit and made a mad dash to join up with the team in Sweden, Scotland was quick to settle in.
"In fairness, considering there were so many new faces in the squad, everyone seemed to get along really well. The boys are a good bunch. They played a few pranks on me, being a new boy and all that, but I half expected it.''
Now having made all the introductions, Scotland can't wait to get going properly. Not that he's expecting an easy ride.
"There are four or five top quality strikers at the club so my first aim is to settle in, train hard and win a starting place up front. Only then will I be able to enjoy my football.
"I've always wanted to play in the British league and it's going to be a good challenge for me.
"But I've got a fairly good goalscoring record behind me - and it's something I want to continue at Swansea.''
