Date of Birth: 03 01 1978
Place of Birth: Edinburgh
Position: Forward
Nationality: Scotland
Craig Dargo Rumours and Transfers
05 07 2007
Forward Dean McDonald completed his move from Gillingham to Inverness and said the Clydesdale Bank Premier League could be "a good platform to show everyone what I can do".
McDonald signed a 2 year deal with the option for a 3rd year and immediately set his sights on breaking into Charlie Christie′s 1st team.
Caley Thistle are thought to have paid a small fee for the 21 year old former Arsenal youth player, who said, "The big attraction for coming to the club is the opportunity to play SPL football without doubt. The club are now well established in Scotland′s top flight and it is a good platform to show everyone what I can do. I have only ever played football in England however I felt it was the right time for a change in my career. I had another few offers however I felt ICT was the best move for me personally."
McDonald urged fans not to consider him a direct replacement for Craig Dargo, who quit the club in the summer to sign for St Mirren.
Dargo hit 31 goals in 2 seasons for Inverness, and McDonald said, "Obviously there will be comparisons made between myself and Craig Dargo and I am very aware of the impact he made here and the amount of goals he scored speak for themselves. However, I feel I am a different type of player to him and I wouldn′t class myself as an out and out goalscorer. I am a creative player, however I do think I have a good eye for goal."
McDonald informed ictfc.co.uk, Caley Thistle′s official website, how he researched his new employers, explaining, "When I realised there is an interest from the club I was straight onto the internet to find out all about them."
Manager Christie thinks McDonald has the instinctive flair to bring something new to his team.
"We would like someone who would add quality and a exact type of quality to the team and we are very hoping that Dean will do only that," mentioned Christie.
"I spoke to several people concerning Dean and they all certainly thought we fitted the bill for the type of player we were after. We were looking for a player who would take the ball into his feet and be creative around the box and hopefully Dean will have given us that."
03 07 2007
Former Republic of Ireland U21 international Henry McStay has begun a trial with SPL club St Mirren.
The 22 year old former Leeds, Halifax and Portadown player had a trial spell with Aberdeen 2 years ago.
Saints manager Gus MacPherson informed the club website, "We′ll have ex-Leeds United and Halifax player Henry McStay with us for a few days. He′ll be here for us to have a look at him over several training sessions," MacPherson added.
The centre back will be hoping to follow Craig Dargo, Mark Howard, Would Haining and Gary Mason in joining the Paisley club.
McStay arrived as the St Mirren players came back for pre season training.
"The players all reported back today in decent shape and we got what work we needed to do done," MacPherson said.
"We gave the players a longer than normal training session to get them back into the swing of things however for the rest of the week it will be double sessions."
30 06 2007
Motherwell will sign Oldham forward Chris Porter, as stated by the English League One club′s website.
The 23 year old is soon to be out of contract at Boundary Park and was approached by Dundee United.
But Tannadice manager Craig Levein dropped his interest in Porter after imposing a deadline for a possible deal.
Porter scored 22 goals last season however Motherwell will not have to pay any compensation due to the cross border transfer regulations.
New Motherwell manager Mark McGhee made a forward his top signing priority, following the sale of Scott McDonald to Celtic at the end of last season.
The Fir Park club missed out on Craig Dargo, with the former Inverness forward opting to join St Mirren instead.
29 06 2007
St Mirren have added 4 new players to their team for next season, that included former Kilmarnock and Inverness forward Craig Dargo.
The 29 year old Dargo refused the offer of a new Inverness contract and will move to Love Street as a free agent.
Central midfielder Gary Mason will leave Dunfermline to remain in the Premier League and defender Would Haining joins from Oldham Athletic.
Goalkeeper Mark Howard arrives in Paisley from Cardiff City.
The 20 year old, who started his career at Arsenal, has played in Scotland before, having been on loan at Falkirk for 5 months in 2006.
Glasgow born Haining, 24, was at Boundary Park for 6 years and operates in central defence.
Mason, 27, refused a new deal at relegated Dunfermline after spending 6 and half years at East End Park.
The capture of Dargo represents quite a coup for Buddies manager Gus MacPherson and compensates for the loss of John Sutton, who has agreed a transfer to Wycombe Wanderers.
The forward scored 31 goals in his 2 seasons with Inverness and was made a good offer to remain in the Highlands.
Motherwell targeted Dargo, whilst several English clubs was credited with an interest in the forward.
25 06 2007
Inverness have arranged trials for 2 experienced Austrian league players.
Caley Thistle manager Charlie Christie has lined up the unnamed players as replacements for defender Darren Dods and forward Craig Dargo, who have both left the Highlands in the summer.
Christie explained, "We′ve been working hard on this behind the scenes and now both players have agreed, with flights booked to get them here next Monday."
He added, "One is a centre half and the other a striker, which is the 2 positions we′re keen to strengthen. They will train with us next week and if one or both do well then there is the chance to take them to our Italian training camp the following week."
20 06 2007
Motherwell manager Mark McGhee mentioned that that Craig Dargo would join midfielder Simon Mensing in his new era at Fir Park.
A deal to prise Mensing from St Johnstone was tied up before McGhee′s appointment Monday.
And Dargo, 29 , who was already on Well′s wishlist, discarded a final offer last week to remain with Inverness.
McGhee said, "He is a player I know more about than a lot of the players on the list, he can score goals, so he′s certainly one we should consider. There′s only a finite number of players and they are not hidden, everybody is looking at the same players," McGhee added
"One or 2 of the names that have already been discussed between the lads, with (secretary) Stewart Robertson or whoever, and talked about with agents are among the players that I would think about signing."
Dargo has expressed a wish to join a club in the central belt after scoring 31 goals in 2 seasons in the Highlands, and the forward has held talks with St Mirren.
Whilst Mensing maybe joined by others originally targeted by Malpas, McGhee also has his own leads to follow up.
The former Scotland forward is particularly keen to secure a forward and a left midfielder.
"I′ve been on the phone literally since half past 6 this morning, talking to people, leaving messages, texting people all over Europe, trying to get some names and ideas," he said.
14 06 2007
Forward Craig Dargo has discarded the chance to be the highest paid player in the Highland club′s history.
The 29 year old′s agent, David Baldwin, informed the P&J, "Craig was very grateful for the offer however he will be looking for a move. From the Inverness view, it was a record offer however you must put it into context with the goals that Craig had scored and his market value. At this stage in his career, he would like to maximise what he can earn."
Dargo hit 12 goals in an injury hit 2006/2007 season at the Caledonian Stadium.
And during his 1st season in the Highlands, the former Kilmarnock forward netted 19 times.
"I appreciate that Inverness had taken a gamble on him, however I feel he has repaid them in the last 2 seasons," added Baldwin.
Inverness will now turn their attention to finding a replacement for Dargo.
"It′s very disappointing that Craig has discarded our offer however we wish him all the best," mentioned director of football Graeme Bennett.
"We still have good forwards in Graham Bayne, Dennis Wyness and Rory McAllister however we′re looking to add now Dargo has gone. We have made enquiries and we′re making some progress. We made Craig a very good offer and his agent stressed that when he phoned to tell me the player′s decision. However, he can get more elsewhere, and his girlfriend would like to remain in the Central Belt."
