O'Connor extends stay at Whitletts
Whitletts Victoria have received a huge boost ahead of Saturday’s vital league match against Ardeer Thistle at Dam Park with the news that striker Michael O’Connor has signed a two year contract extension that will see him remain with the Club until the end of the 2016-17 season.
The 25 year old striker has played a vital part in Vics’ season to date, scoring 20 goals in all competitions and delighted manager Steph McMillan believes that O’Connor’s commitment to the Club, following on from the extended contract signed recently by fellow striker Tony Balfour, proves that the Ayr side are moving in the right direction.
“Whilst a lot of the attention has gone on Tony (Balfour) this season for his goals, Mick has continued to work away tirelessly, almost unnoticed at times, for the team and I’m sure Tony would be the first to agree that the workrate of Mick has helped him achieve his success this season” said McMillan
“Mick’s ability and awareness is exceptional and there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that he could play at a higher level. He once was a striker partner at Girvan with Michael Moffat and at that time was just as equally talented a player and with 20 goals this season proves that he hasn’t lost the knack of finding the net.”
“But I believe that the fact he so readily agreed to put pen to paper is testament to his belief that we are trying to achieve something special here at Whitletts and he wants to be a part of it” added the Vics’ boss
O’Connor agreed that the direction the club is moving in played a major part in his decision to stay with the Dam Park side.
“I had already signed a two year contract so was committed to the club for next season in any case but the transformation in the Club this season makes me believe that there is a very bright future for Whitletts Victoria and as an Ayr boy, I want to be a part of that” said O’Connor
“There have been huge improvements both on the park and behind the scenes at the Club and there is a great atmosphere in the dressing room with all the players working hard for each other and I believe that that can only be good for the Clubs’ future. There is a desire at the Club to win silverware and as a player that is where you want to be involved”
Vics’ Chairman John Dalton was also delighted that O’Connor had agreed to extend his stay at the Whitletts.
“Mick is a key player to this Club, both at present and in the future and the fact that both he and Tony Balfour have agreed to extend their stay with the Club proves the desire that exists to develop Whitletts Victoria into a force in the junior game” said John
“We are in the last eight of the Scottish Junior Cup and also in the throes of the most exciting promotion race ever in the Ayrshire District League with a lot of good sides involved. But while our immediate aim is to return to the Superleague, we are also looking ahead to develop the Club into a genuine force in junior football that will compete with the Auchinleck Talbot’s and Irvine Meadow’s of this world on a regular basis and signing a key player like Michael O’Connor is further proof of that ambition.”
The 25 year old striker has played a vital part in Vics’ season to date, scoring 20 goals in all competitions and delighted manager Steph McMillan believes that O’Connor’s commitment to the Club, following on from the extended contract signed recently by fellow striker Tony Balfour, proves that the Ayr side are moving in the right direction.
“Whilst a lot of the attention has gone on Tony (Balfour) this season for his goals, Mick has continued to work away tirelessly, almost unnoticed at times, for the team and I’m sure Tony would be the first to agree that the workrate of Mick has helped him achieve his success this season” said McMillan
“Mick’s ability and awareness is exceptional and there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that he could play at a higher level. He once was a striker partner at Girvan with Michael Moffat and at that time was just as equally talented a player and with 20 goals this season proves that he hasn’t lost the knack of finding the net.”
“But I believe that the fact he so readily agreed to put pen to paper is testament to his belief that we are trying to achieve something special here at Whitletts and he wants to be a part of it” added the Vics’ boss
O’Connor agreed that the direction the club is moving in played a major part in his decision to stay with the Dam Park side.
“I had already signed a two year contract so was committed to the club for next season in any case but the transformation in the Club this season makes me believe that there is a very bright future for Whitletts Victoria and as an Ayr boy, I want to be a part of that” said O’Connor
“There have been huge improvements both on the park and behind the scenes at the Club and there is a great atmosphere in the dressing room with all the players working hard for each other and I believe that that can only be good for the Clubs’ future. There is a desire at the Club to win silverware and as a player that is where you want to be involved”
Vics’ Chairman John Dalton was also delighted that O’Connor had agreed to extend his stay at the Whitletts.
“Mick is a key player to this Club, both at present and in the future and the fact that both he and Tony Balfour have agreed to extend their stay with the Club proves the desire that exists to develop Whitletts Victoria into a force in the junior game” said John
“We are in the last eight of the Scottish Junior Cup and also in the throes of the most exciting promotion race ever in the Ayrshire District League with a lot of good sides involved. But while our immediate aim is to return to the Superleague, we are also looking ahead to develop the Club into a genuine force in junior football that will compete with the Auchinleck Talbot’s and Irvine Meadow’s of this world on a regular basis and signing a key player like Michael O’Connor is further proof of that ambition.”