Saints secure Duffy signature

The club is delighted to confirm the signing of 20-year-old defender Wallace Duffy who joins Saints following his release from Celtic on a two-year-deal.

Wallace - primarily a right-back who can also play in the centre-back - is a Scotland U19 international and featured regularly for Celtic Reserves in the SPFL Reserve League last season.

Speaking to the club's official website after the signing was announced, Wallace was keen to let the supporters know what they can expect from him in the coming season.

"I'm delighted to get the deal over the line," he said, "as it's been in the pipeline for a number of weeks now.

"I'm really looking forward to Tuesday when I'll meet the rest of the boys and get my Saints career started.

"Supporters can expect a right-back who can defend first and foremost. I'm not a full-back who only focuses on getting forward and I like to do the defensive side of things too.

"I always work hard and give my all and hopefully I can be part of a solid defence here."

Duffy was also quick to praise his new Manager and the man who he will be competing with for a place in the starting line-up in the coming season - Richard Foster.

"The Gaffer has been brilliant with me," Wallace said.

"He's been really encouraging me and he's told me I'll get my chance here to impress. I had a great time at Celtic but it's time for a new challenge and I couldn't turn down the opportunity that the Manager has given me here.

"Hopefully if I can take my chance and get myself into the team then I can repay the faith he's shown in me.

"It's going to be tough because Richard Foster played in almost every game last season and he's done really here here. He's a great pro and he's played at the highest level.

"He's not just going to let me come in and take his position so I'll need to come in and work hard. I'm looking forward to working with Richard and I think I can learn a lot from him along the way."

The Manager also spoke to the official website about his second recruit of the summer.

"Obviously with Joe Shaughnessy, Brian Easton and Aaron Comrie having left the club we are down numbers-wise in defence," Tommy said.

"Wallace is a player we’ve been watching for several months and he's a young player who can come in and add quality to the squad.

"He’s primarily a right back but can also play on the right side of the centre of defence and he’ll give Richard competition in that right-back role which is important.

"He has good physical qualities, height and athleticism and I’m looking forward to working with him."

The Manager added: "Generally, we are ticking along nicely. I know the summer can be frustrating for fans but we remember that we already have a strong squad. We have strength in midfield and wide and we are actively looking for a striker and maybe another defender.”

Wallace becomes the second signing of the summer transfer window following the arrival of Elliott Parish and will join up with the squad when the players return to pre-season training next week.