Fleetwood Town striker Paddy Madden on move to Stockport County

By David Richardson

BIG NAME ARRIVAL: Paddy Madden joined Stockport County from Fleetwood Town this week for a fee rumoured to be around £250,000

PICTURE: Stockport County FC

MARQUE signing Paddy Madden says he has no qualms about taking a two-division drop to help fire Stockport County back to the Football League.

The 31-year-old made a shock departure from Fleetwood Town this week to join Simon Rusk’s promotion hopefuls on a three-and-a-half-year deal for a fee rumoured around £250,000.

Madden scored 53 goals in 149 appearances for the club, becoming their record EFL goalscorer, after joining from Scunthorpe United in 2018.

The Irishman helped Yeovil Town win promotion to the Championship in 2013 by picking up the League One golden boot with 23 goals.

He also enjoyed success at Scunthorpe as they clinched promotion from League Two a year later – and now he wants to add another to his CV.

“I want to come here and help Stockport get back into the EFL,” Madden said. “I always think of Stockport as a sleeping giant so when I heard of the interest and the project they have going on here, I wanted to be part of it.

“The chairman has big ambitions for the club, a new gaffer who has big ambitions as well and a great squad of players.”

Madden is familiar with County having had a pre-season trial in 2008 when he was starting his career with Irish club Bohemians.

“It’s weird the way football works out,” he said. “I was about 16 or 17, I came over on trial and did reasonably well. I think I was close to signing but it petered out.

“I remember watching Stockport in League Two against Rochdale, Liam Dickinson scored and the place erupted. I was thought to myself I’d like to play at this club one day.”