St Mirren have beaten neighbours Morton to the signature of former Falkirk midfielder Patrick Cregg until January.The 24-year-old had been released by Hibernian after a season in Edinburgh and played as a trialist in the Ton's 0-0 draw with Ross County last weekend.
Cregg told the St Mirren website: "Morton had made me an offer, where Allan Moore was really good to me.
"But I'm extremely grateful to Danny Lennon and St Mirren for giving me the offer to come here and play."
It means that Cregg, who started his career with Arsenal, is back in the Scottish Premier League when it looked like he was about to extend his stay in Division One.
"The best deal for me at the end of the day was to come to St Mirren in the SPL, where I have played most of my career," he explained.
I'm particularly excited about this signing
St Mirren manager Danny Lennon
"I had three appearances for Arsenal and one for Morton, so for four seasons with Falkirk and Hibs I was in the SPL, where I have gained a fair amount of experience.
"I had my first training session with the squad today, but obviously I know quite a few of the players as I've played alongside and against them in the past, so I feel I've very quickly got an understanding with them."
Cregg goes straight into the St Mirren squad for Saturday's trip to Fir Park to face in-form Motherwell as the Paisley outfit attempt to lift themselves off the bottom of the table.
And manager Lennon was delighted to have pipped their Renfrewshire rivals by offering a short-term contract.
"Patrick had been offered terms by Greenock Morton, but I'm glad that he has agreed to come to us until the New Year," he said.
"I certainly believe that he has the right qualities that we need at this time. He passes the ball well, he sees things quickly and he is a tenacious little character.
"He'll get the passes to the wingers to push forward, is well organised and is very hard working.
"Patrick has experience at this level and quite a bit of it for such a young man. To be fair, I'm particularly excited about this signing."
Cregg becomes Lennon's thirteenth signing since moving from Cowdenbeath in the summer and does not rule out adding again to his injury-hit squad.
"We still have five or six potential first-team starters out, so we will still be keeping an eye on what is out and about out there," the manager added.
"The squad has grown and there is no doubt that, come the time when everybody is fit, I'll have a problem."
Source: BBC Sport
Source: BBC Sport