ATHLETIC have completed their second signing of the January transfer window by snapping up Ross County defender Coll Donaldson.
The 26-year-old, who has also turned out for Livingston, Queens Park Rangers, Dundee United and Inverness Caledonian Thistle, joins on loan until the end of the season.
✍️ DAFC are delighted to announce the signing of Ross County’s @CollDonaldson on loan until the end of the season.
— Dunfermline Athletic (@officialdafc) January 3, 2022
We wish Coll well during his spell at East End Park.
➡️ https://t.co/SbKD1T7RIT pic.twitter.com/nglQgVVZgU
However, it has also been confirmed that Vytas Gaspuitis has left the club to return to his native Lithuania.
The 27-year-old, who joined Dunfermline last February, having received a glowing reference from countryman, and Pars hero, Andrius Skerla, has had his contract cancelled by mutual consent.
All the best Vytas 💪
— Dunfermline Athletic (@officialdafc) January 3, 2022
➡️ https://t.co/PYNKm0iYUz pic.twitter.com/Y3Z7PasURg
Gaspuitis, whose final appearance came in last month's loss at Hamilton, played 20 times for the club.
In a statement, they said: "At the request of the player, we have agreed to cancel the contract of Vytas Gaspuitis, to allow him to return home to Lithuania.
"Moving to a strange country in a global pandemic would be difficult for anyone, but Vytas has been an outstanding professional who has shown great resilience and humility at all times. We wish Vytas and his family every success in the future."
Donaldson's arrival follows that of Steven Lawless, who signed last week and made his debut against Raith Rovers yesterday, while Lewis Martin has agreed a contract with the club until the end of the season having proven his fitness following injury, details of which are expected to be formally confirmed this afternoon.
READ MORE: Martin earns Pars deal as loanee set for recall
Centre back Donaldson, who played under Hughes in Dingwall, has been restricted to just four appearances this season for the Staggies because of a knee injury, which kept him out of action until mid-December.
However, last season, he made 31 starts for the Premiership outfit.
After joining Livingston's youth system, Donaldson was signed at the age of 18 by Harry Redknapp at QPR, but after just one appearance for the West London club, he returned to Scotland with Dundee United, where he spent two seasons.
He then joined Inverness in 2017, where made made 103 appearances over three years, before joining their rivals County in January 2020.
Donaldson's arrival comes as Hughes revealed post-match at Raith that Kai Kennedy has been recalled from his loan by Rangers, while he was also due to hold talks with Dundee United over the futures of Mark Connolly and Ross Graham.
We will have an interview with Donaldson in this week's Press Sport.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here