Ian Black signs for Shrewsbury Town

FORMER Hearts and Rangers midfielder Ian Black has signed for Shrewsbury Town on a two-year deal.

Black has been a free agent since leaving Rangers earlier this summer. Picture: Ian Georgeson

The 30-year old had been on trial with the English League One club having left Rangers at the start of this summer.

Manager Micky Mellon was sufficiently impressed with the player and secured his signing on a permanent basis. It gives the club another option in the middle of the park as they look to build a squad capable of surviving their first season back in England’s third tier after winning promotion last term.

Black had found it difficult to find a new permanent home after being one of several players to leave Ibrox at the end of last season. He’s delighted to have finally found a new club and is looking forward to the challenge ahead.

He said: “My main aim was to get somewhere back in England and so I am delighted to have ended up here. I came down early last week for a few days training and after meeting the gaffer and listening to his plans, I was really keen to join here.

“I am going to come down and work hard and really enjoy it. I know there will be competition for places still and I am looking forward to that challenge.

“The team have been doing brilliant recently so I don’t expect to walk into the team, it will take time and I will have to take my opportunities.

“I believe the gaffer will get the best out of me and I am delighted with that. I like a tackle, I have always been brought up to win the ball. That’s a mentality I have and I won’t change it so hopefully that can be a great asset to the team.

“I want to be a part of achieving something at every team I have been at, promotion is the aim here.”

Black has made over 300 appearances in Scottish football during spells with Inverness CT, Hearts and Rangers.

He was a member of the Hearts team that won the 2012 Scottish Cup and helped Rangers to back-to-back League Two and League One titles.

While at Rangers he was called up for the Scotland squad for a friendly encounter with Australia. Black came on as a late substitute for his one and only Scotland cap.