Michael Travis departs Station Park

Forfar Athletic can confirm that our longest-serving player and former club captain Michael Travis has left the club having been released from his contract late on Friday afternoon.

As has been well documented elsewhere he then played as a trialist for Edinburgh City in their 2-2 draw with Elgin City on Friday evening.

Michael missed the whole of last season through injury and since making a full recovery had found it difficult to cement a regular place in Gary’s starting line-up.

He moved out on loan to Berwick Rangers in late November to secure vital game time, but unfortunately, the wee Rangers only managed three games in a six week period due to weather and covid related issues.

Over the past two weeks, Michael had been in discussions with the Athies management team in regard to his future and the fact that not surprisingly at this stage of his career he was looking to secure an opportunity to play regular first-team football still hopefully at SPFL level.

It was therefore agreed that Michael would move on and an announcement will be forthcoming later today from other sources in regard to his immediate future in the game.

Michael joined the ‘Loons’ at the opening of the registration window in January 2015 having been released by Arbroath and agreed with a deal to move to Station Park a couple of months earlier.

Since then the highly likeable central defender, not to mention his very supportive family become an integral part of the Forfar Athletic fabric.

Despite a couple of horrendous injuries in his time at the club which he showed great resilience and no little application to recover from Michael still made 158 starting appearances in competitive fixtures for the club as well as 12 from the bench, netting 20 goals into the bargain.

He never gave less than one hundred per cent both on the field of play and in training and became a true favourite of the Athies fan base.

He leaves Station Park with the thanks and gratitude of all concerned and with best wishes for his future both on and off the park.

There will always be a welcome waiting on any return visit for both Michael and his family and that first return visit may not be too far away?