News Archive

15 July 2010
SAM RELISHING CHANCE TO PROVE HIMSELF

New striker Sam Parkin hopes to reward Manager Derek McInnes for his perseverance by firing in the goals which will take Saints into a top six place in the season ahead.

After putting pen to paper on a two year deal at McDiarmid Park this afternoon the tall striker revealed that he had the opportunity to come to the club a year ago but opted for Walsall. However, he was aware of continuing interest from the Saints gaffer and when his contract at The Banks’ Stadium was cancelled by mutual consent in May he spoke extensively with Del before securing the move north of the border.

Parkin told the Saints Official Website: “I’ve been in regular contact with Derek over the past year and although I decided to give it a crack at Walsall last season I wasn’t given much of an opportunity and the time is right for a move to St Johnstone.

“After ten years playing in Leagues One and Two plus a handful of games in the Championship it’s going to be a different challenge for me up here but I’ve not enjoyed my football in the past year and I can’t wait to do well for Saints and raise my profile.”

Sam began his career with Chelsea and was at Stamford Bridge at the time when Jody Morris and Michael Duberry were playing first team football for the Londoners.

However, it was at Swindon Town where Sam ignited his career, netting 73 goals in three seasons for the Wiltshire side and that level of consistency sealed a move to Ipswich Town for a transfer fee not much shy of half a million pounds but towards the end of his first season at Portman Road he suffered an ankle break.

“That was a real blow for me” admits the player.

“It took the best part of eighteen months to get over that but at least I got playing again eventually – there was some doubt about that at one stage – and I have proved over the past three or four years that I am well over the injury.”

The enforced career break could not have come at a worse time for Sam because his goal scoring exploits for Swindon Town had secured him – thanks to a Scottish mother - a place in the Scotland Futures squad and he played in a match against Austria. However, by the time he had got over the ankle break his international chance had passed him by.

He reflects: “It was a great experience being involved and I enjoyed working with Walter Smith and Ally McCoist. It’s just a shame it couldn’t have worked out better.”

With a disappointing season at Walsall behind him, Sam can’t wait to get involved in the SPL and reward Derek McInnes for the tenacity of his pursuit of his services.

“As a player you want to go where you are wanted and there have perhaps been a couple of moves in my career where that wasn’t necessarily the case - I was seen as a bit of a gamble. The manager’s determination to get me has been a real factor in me coming to St Johnstone and I want to repay him.
“It’s a fresh challenge after ten years of coming up against the same clubs and all the opponents this season will give me something new to experience.

“For Saints, it’s about improving on last year and I want to help us do that. It might take me a few games to get going but the manager has shown confidence in me and I have faith in my ability to contribute.”