By MARTIN TIGHE
With just 10 days remaining of the winter transfer window the clubs in the Scottish Championship have been involved in a flurry of activity.
It is a sign of the economic reality in Scottish football’s second tier that it is so far a story of loans in and out and free agents being acquired.
One of the most notable of those is Dumbarton’s re-signing of free agent Christian Nade. The return of the powerful striker striker will no doubt boost the Sons’ survival chances.
League leaders Hibs have lost the services of Kris Commons who has returned to Celtic. The skilful playmaker performed well for the Easter Road side and his departure could prove a loss to their promotion hopes.
The chasing pack have been quiet in terms of their transfers but the loan signing by Morton of Lawrence Shankland from Aberdeen will add some bite to the play-off chasing Greenock side’s attack.
Leaving Cappielow is centre half Gavin Gunning who has travelled down south to join Grimsby Town on a free transfer.
Dundee United have secured the services of Odense’s Thomas Mikkelson with the striker at Tannadice on loan until the end of the season, while Falkirk have signed the talented Fraser Aird from Rangers on a free transfer.
Bairns manager Peter Houston said: “I believe he can come in and excite the fans. He’s certainly a player with a bit of quality.”
Ahead of this weekend’s Scottish Cup clash with Morton, Houston added: “Fraser is a player who I have been keen to bring to the club and one that we have worked hard to be able to secure.”
Elsewhere, Ryan Stevenson has joined Raith Rovers on a free transfer and Queen of the South have bolstered their squad with the capture of experienced John Rankin from Falkirk on a free.
A full list of the Championship activity to date is outlined below.
Hibernian
IN
Aaron Dunsmore – Edinburgh City
Chris Humphrey – Preston
OUT
Kris Commons – Celtic
Otso Virtanen – KuPS
Neil Eardley – Northampton Town
Dundee United
IN
Thomas Mikkelson – Odense
OUT
Matty Smith – Montrose
Morton
IN
Lawrence Shankland – Aberdeen
OUT
Gavin Gunning – Grimsby Town
Andy McNeil – career break to become goalkeeping coach in China
John Tennant – free agent
Falkirk
IN
Fraser Aird – Rangers
Kevin O’Hara – East Fife
OUT
Liam Henderson – Cowdenbeath
John Rankin – Queen of the South
Deniz Mehmet – free agent
Dunfermline
IN
Callum Morris – Aberdeen
Raith Rovers
IN
Scott Roberts – Rangers
Jonny Court – Montrose
Ryan Stevenson – Dumbarton
Ryan Hardie – Rangers
OUT
David Bates – Rangers
Lewis Vaughan – Dumbarton
Queen of the South
IN
Scott Mercer – East Fife
John Rankin – Falkirk
Bob Murray – Gretna
Dom Thomas – Motherwell
OUT
Mark Millar – Livingston
Jack Brennan
Dumbarton
IN
Amadou Kassarate – Kirkintilloch
Callum Gallagher – St Mirren
Tom Lang – free agent
Stuart Carswell – Keflavik IV
Ryan Clark – end of loan
Christian Nade – free agent
OUT
Josh Todd – St Mirren
Craig Pettigrew – Stranraer
Fraser Wright – Stirling
Ryan Stevenson – Raith Rovers
St Mirren
IN
Pal Fjelde – Byrne FK
Rory Loy – Dundee
Kyle Hutton – Airdrie
Josh Todd – Dumbarton
OUT
Lawrence Shankland – Aberdeen
Tom Walsh – Rangers
Callum Gallagher – Dundee
Jason Naismith – Ross County
