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Dobbie excited by Swansea switch

Stephen Dobbie is on his way to Swansea
Stephen Dobbie is on his way to Swansea City

Striker Stephen Dobbie says he cannot wait to start scoring goals for his new club Swansea City.

The 26-year-old, who has agreed terms on a free transfer, bade farewell to fans at Scottish First Division side Queen of the South on Saturday.

"I've scored 24 goals this year and hopefully I can show the [Swansea] fans what I'm all about," Dobbie told BBC Scotland.

"Hopefully I will get my first goal soon and get the ball rolling."

Dobbie scored 47 goals in 83 appearances for Queens during his two year stint at Palmerston Park.

His move to south Wales will see him reunited with Swans top scorer Jason Scotland.

The pair were in the same St Johnstone team in the 2005-06 season and scored 21 goals between them.

Scotland has netted 24 times this season on top of last season's 29-goal feat and has caught the eyes of Premier League clubs.

But the Swans are trying to keep hold of the Trinidad & Tobago striker by opening talks on a new deal.

Dobbie says he is looking forward to his move, but admits he is sad to leave Queens.

"We've been through a rollercoaster here with a [Scottish] Cup final and playing in Europe [this season], but I've got to move on and I'm going to an amazing club in Swansea.

"It's going to be a great challenge for me.

"They play quite a lot of attacking football and that will suit me.

"Hopefully I can give them movement up front and shoot from all different angles. I think I would fit in. I'm looking forward to it."

Queens manager Gordon Chisholm paid tribute to Dobbie saying Swansea had signed "one of the most gifted players in Scotland".

We tried to sign Stephen Dobbie, but he went to Swansea for money we couldn't afford

Motherwell manager Mark McGhee

"He has earned his move to the Championship and rightly so," said Chisholm.

"Over the past four months, I think he's been unplayable.

"That's been shown by the number of offers he's had which is half the Scottish Premier League and a few clubs down south."

One of the 10 clubs also interested in him was Motherwell whose manager Mark McGhee admitted he could not match the wages offered south of the border.

"We tried to sign Stephen Dobbie, but he went to Swansea for money we couldn't afford," said McGhee.

Dobbie is the Scottish First Division's top scorer, six goals ahead of nearest rival Leigh Griffiths of Livingston who hit 18.

Former Rangers trainee Dobbie got his earliest taste of first-team football when he joined Hibernian.

However, his two years at Easter Road came to an end after a loan spell with St Johnstone.

Dobbie's career was revived after being subsequently farmed out by the Perth club to Dumbarton and then he sealed a move to Queens in 2007.



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see also
Dobbie demands denied Motherwell
08 May 09 |  Motherwell
Swansea agree terms with Dobbie
07 May 09 |  Swansea


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