GARY TWIGG WILL leave Shamrock Rovers at the end of the season, bringing an end to months of speculation about the star striker’s future with the Hoops.
Twigg’s contract expires after the final round of league matches and the club confirmed in a statement this afternoon that the Scot will not be signing a new deal.
Twigg, who will play his final home game against UCD on Friday, is set to move north of the border to the Irish League where he is expected to join Portadown.
“I am only leaving to be nearer my family,” the 28-year-old said, explaining the reasons behind his decision.
I don’t want to leave the club and wouldn’t be if it was only a football decision, but it isn’t. My family is the most important thing to me and I had to make this decision for their sake.I loved played for Rovers and have great memories from my time here.
Twigg’s move closes the book on four seasons in which the Glasgow native became synonymous with Rovers’ resurgence, his goals helping the Hoops end their long stint in the league wilderness with back-to-back titles in 2010 and 2011.
Signed by manager Michael O’Neill from Brechin City in the spring of 2009, Twigg became an instant hit when he scored the first goal in the club’s new home of Tallaght Stadium, and went on to win both the golden boot and the PFAI Player of the Year award in his first season in Irish football.
He has scored 18 league goals this season, a tally which looks set to earn him a second golden boot before he moves on.
“I want to thank everyone at the club, the manager who brought me in, and those I’ve played under this season, for everything they have done for me over the past four seasons.
“And I especially want to thank the fans, they have been brilliant to me and I couldn’t have achieved what I did at the club without them.”
