Rovers have bolstered their defensive ranks with the signing of Scotland international Paul Caddis following a successful trial.

The 29-year-old, who previously played under manager Tony Mowbray at Celtic, becomes Rovers’ sixth summer signing, putting pen-to-paper on a two-year deal through to June 2019.



Irvine-born, Caddis started out in the same Celtic youth sides as Charlie Mulgrew, before making his senior debut for the Hoops in January 2008.





A four-month loan spell with Dundee United followed, in which he made 11 appearances and played alongside Craig Conway, before Caddis returned to Celtic – then managed by Mowbray – in the summer of 2009.After 24 appearances for the Glasgow giants, Caddis secured a switch south of the border, signing for Swindon Town in August 2010.The Scot showed his versatility during his first season with the Robins, operating in midfield as well as his usual position of right-back.The following campaign, Caddis was a near ever-present, as he skippered Swindon to the League Two title and was also named in the PFA Team of the Year.August 2012 saw the attacking full-back join Championship side Birmingham City on a season-long loan and after 28 appearances for the Blues, the move was made permanent the following September.After cementing his place in the side, Caddis would write his name in Blues folklore in the final game of the 2013-14 season when the Scot scored a 90th-minute equaliser in a dramatic 2-2 draw with Bolton Wanderers to retain Birmingham’s Championship status.Caddis continued to be a regular starter over the next two seasons, often captaining the side, but a dislocated shoulder in October 2016, allied with the arrival of manager Gianfranco Zola, spelled the end of his Blues career and he was released in January 2017 having made a total of 159 appearances, scoring 16 goals.Caddis spent a week on trial with Rovers, before signing a short-term deal with League One side Bury in February 2017, where he played a prominent role in their successful fight for survival, starting 13 games during the closing stages of the season.This summer saw the experienced Scot return to Brockhall for the start of pre-season training and after impressing in the games against Barrow, Sparta Prague and York City, in which he bagged a fine second-half brace, Caddis has now earned himself a permanent move to Ewood Park.