Pars secure Airdrie's McDougall

McDougall suffered relegation from Division One with Airdrie

Midfielder Steven McDougall has completed his transfer to Dunfermline Athletic from Airdrie United.

The 23-year-old has joined the Fife club on a two-year contract after suffering relegation with Airdrie.

"As soon as I found out that Dunfermline were interested, I had my heart set on it," he said. "I wasn't very sure that it was going to happen."

McDougall came through the youth ranks with Airdrie and spent five years with the club relegated to Division Two.

The move had been held up because of negotiations about compensation between the two clubs.

There are expectations at Dunfermline that didn't exist at Airdrie Dunfermline midfielder Steven McDougall

"It was weird playing for Airdrie knowing that I was leaving in the summer," McDougall told Dunfermline's website.

"I put Dunfermline at the back of my head until this season."

McDougall was a substitute as Airdrie lost to Ayr United in the two-leg play-off but is hopeful of regular first-team starts with Dunfermline.

"There are expectations at Dunfermline that didn't exist at Airdrie," he said.

"Airdrie's main aim when they came up last year was to stay in the division, whereas Dunfermline's is to get up a division."

McDougall was being played as a striker at the end of his stay at Excelsior Stadium but prefers to play wide on the right or left.

Airdrie's website announced: "The club can confirm that after almost two months of discussions, a deal has been agreed and Steven McDougall has now left the club."