Ross County F.C. Sign Free Agent Mark Fotheringham
Ross County F.C. will be Fotheringham’s 9th club.
It was announced today that Ross County have signed midfielder Mark Fotheringham for the remainder of the 2012-2013 season. Fotheringham is a product of the Celtic F.C. youth system and a former Scottish U21 international, but he is also a player who has been unable to “settle” over the course of his career. Though only still only 28, he has already played for Celtic, Dundee, SC Freiburg, FC Aarau, Norwich City, Dundee United, Anorthosis Famagusta, and Livingston, with only his spells at Dundee (the first time) and Norwich lasting more than a single season. In several cases, his tenure with a club did not last even a full season, and on a couple of occasions his departures from a club have not been on good terms. This was particularly true at Norwich City were he played his best football, but was also stripped of his club captaincy after throwing a tantrum when he was subbed out of a match.
In addition to the clubs he has played for, Fotheringham has been on trial/trained with Leeds United, Espanyol, Derby County, Sheffield United, Wolves, and this past summer with two Bundesliga sides- VfL Wolfsburg and Hoffenheim. So, what does it all mean? I think it means that he is a good enough player that he has been able to attract interest from good clubs and to play for several as well, but that his attitude has not always been as good as his footballing ability. Normally that would make me a little hesitant about the club signing him, but in this case I’m not. Fotheringham is a midfielder and this is an area of the field where County are particularly strong so he will have to do something pretty special to crack the starting line-up. Most likely he is simply cover in case there is an injury. In that role, I like the signing. An experienced, quality player who can step in and do the job.
