Stirling Albion new boy Mark Staunton revealed he jumped at the chance to sign for Stuart McLaren’s side and admitted he can’t wait for the new season.

The 26-year-old joined the Binos after two years with Irvine Meadow, where he was made club captain and won their Player of the Year award last season.

And the defender was impressed with the setup at Forthbank after signing a deal for the 2015/16 season, writes Jamie Hall.

Staunton told Stirling News Sport: “I’d been in touch with Stuart McLaren for a couple of weeks and as soon as he made me the offer I was happy to sign. I came through to the stadium yesterday and got shown around. I had actually played there a couple of times previously but it was nice to get shown into the home changing room and the gym. It’s a very impressive facility and a great setup here. I was speaking to the chairman Stuart Brown and it seems like a really well-run, family-oriented club. I’m looking forward to it and I can’t wait to get started.

“I’d known about Stirling from playing against them previously, and I also played a few reserve games at Forthbank during my time at Falkirk, so I knew how good the setup was.

“Having been at Falkirk, we had an unofficial affiliation where players would go on loan or get picked up by Stirling Albion after being released, and I knew from speaking to a few guys how big a club it is.

“That attraction was definitely there and from speaking to Stuart, all his ideas and what him and Marty are trying to do matched up really well with what I want to achieve.

“The opportunity to go back and play senior football again was massive for me, so I’m really looking forward to that aspect of it as well.” The former Celtic and Charlton Athletic youth player was confident his ability could help the Binos bounce back to League One at the first attempt and backed manager Stuart McLaren to lead his side to promotion.

He added: “I’m a good communicator, an organiser and a leader on the pitch. I feel I’m good in the air and decent with the ball at my feet. I’m a natural competitor, I want to win every game and I hate losing games and goals.

“I’m looking forward to going into training, introducing myself to the boys and getting into the swing of things. My biggest goal is to help the team get promoted back to League One. Individually I’d like to do well but if the team does well that’s the main thing.

“I think Stuart’s going to bring in his own ideas. He has a full season this time around rather than just a few months. He’s bringing in his own players, and I think the aim, certainly for myself, has got to be getting promoted.

“I want to play at the highest level I can play at, and I don’t see why, with the players we’ve kept and the players Stuart has brought in, we can’t be up there challenging come the end of the season.”