Fleetwood sign Rotherham keeper Cairns

Fleetwood have signed out of contract Rotherham United shot-stopper Alex Cairns who vowed to fight fellow newcomer Chris Neal for the number one shirt.
Alex CairnsAlex Cairns
Alex Cairns

The 23-year-old ex-Leeds United keeper made one appearance for the Whites before joining Town’s League One rivals Chesterfield last term.

He failed to break into the Spireites first team and moved to Rotherham in 2016 but did not manage to get a game for the Championship outfit.

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Despite his lack of first team match action he has signed a two year deal at Highbury and says he is ready to battle Neal, who joined the club from Port Vale today, for departing PNE bound keeper Chris Maxwell’s starting spot.

He said: “I’ve been wanting (a first team spot) for a number of years now and hopefully I can do that here.

“Me and the other goalkeeper will be fighting it out for the number one spot.

“I think with any club, especially one as ambitious as this, there should be competition.

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“Every player gets better with competition and it can only be a good thing.”

And the keeper says he was highly impressed by the club’s new £8.5m Poolfoot Farm training complex and wants to help Town push on up the league.

He said: “I spoke to David Lucas the goalkeeping coach and he said would you like to come in.

“I came in and straight away the training ground was unbelievable.

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“It makes you want to come in and train, it gets you excited about the place.

“I spoke to the manager (Steven Pressley) and his staff and there is a real buzz around the place.

“You can see what the chairman (Andy Pilley) is trying to do, he is trying to get the club as high as possible and hopefully I can be a part of that.

“It is a great area and a great set of lads, I’ve already met most of the lads and I’m looking forward to settling in.”