JOHN SUTTON has signed a two-year deal with St Johnstone after knocking back the chance to stay at Motherwell.

The 31-year-old striker had been offered an extended contract with the Fir Park side after helping Ian Baraclough's side beat relegation.

But the former Raith Rovers, Millwall, Dundee, St Mirren, Wycombe and Hearts frontman has decided he wants to move on again after agreeing terms with Tommy Wright's Perth Saints.

He said: "I'm really happy. The club did really well last year so hopefully I can be part of something good going forward. St Johnstone are a really good team so I'm looking forward to being part of that.

"The manager seemed very keen from the outset to bring me in. There were a couple of other teams that were interested, but I was keen to come here."

Sutton scored 13 times last season, including a penalty in the second leg of the 6-1 aggregate win over Rangers in the play-off final which secured Well's 30-year run in the top flight.

He first signed for the Steelmen back in 2008 and scored 43 goals in 125 games before moving to Hearts in the summer of 2011.

He returned to the Lanarkshire outfit in 2013 and scored a further 35 goals in 84 appearances in a fruitful two-year spell.

Well boss Baraclough said: "We are obviously disappointed to lose John after making him the best offer we could.

"However, he has opted to move to St Johnstone and we will now move on and progress with the other targets we have for the striking position.

"On behalf of everyone at Fir Park, I would like to thank John for his fantastic effort over the five seasons he's been here and wish him all the very best with his future career."