Stirling Albion new boy Ross Smith was delighted after sealing his move to Forthbank and insists the Binos can bounce back to League One at the first attempt.

The former Dundee United and Peterhead defender is looking forward to the challenge of helping his new side climb out of League Two and revealed he was keen to link up with assistant manager Martyn Corrigan, who he worked with while on loan at Stenhousemuir.

Smith told Stirling News Sport: “I feel good. I feel like it’s the right move for me, and I want to be part of the challenge that the manager has set. I’ve worked with Martyn Corrigan before and I know a few of the boys as well, so I’m not going into a changing room where I don’t know anybody. The setup looks good and I’m really looking forward to the start of the season. I thought it would be a good challenge and a good opportunity for me this season to do well and help the club get back into League One.

“Promotion is definitely a realistic goal. That’s what this club should be aiming for, and with the players we have, I think we’re definitely capable of going back up at the first attempt. We just need to perform well over the course of the season and hopefully that will be enough for us to go up.” The 23-year-old, who was capped twice by Scotland at Under-19 level, admitted he is a different player to the one released by Dundee United in 2014.

He said: “I feel like I’ve grown as a centre-half over the past couple of seasons. I think I’ve got a good presence at the back and I’m a bit more experienced. I’ve got experience of winning League Two with Peterhead already. I’ve matured a lot over the past couple of seasons and I feel like I’m ready to help the team by playing how I know I can.” “When I was at Dundee United I was in full-time training. Things didn’t work out but I went to Peterhead and won the league there.

“The experience of winning the league with Peterhead and training full-time with United will be beneficial to me but I think the most important thing is how I am training and playing now. I know I can only get better.”