NEW signing David McCracken says he swapped matches against Celtic and Rangers to join Wycombe because he wants to win things under Paul Lambert.

The 25-year-old Dundee United defender penned a two-year-deal at Adams Park on Tuesday despite Motherwell offering him the chance to extend his Scottish Premier League career.

McCracken, who made 200 apearances for SPL side Dundee United before being released by boss Craig Levein this summer, was also being courted by English clubs in the Championship, League One and League Two.

But the centre back, who has made a living out of marking the likes of Henrik Larsson, Chris Sutton and John Hartson, had his heart set on Adams Park as soon as he spoke to Wanderers boss Paul Lambert.

The Celtic fan was desperate to sign for the former Bhoys star, who he used to play against in the SPL.

McCracken said: "I'm flattered that he remembered me. As soon as I knew he was interested I was excited and he sold the club to me.

"Paul Lambert is a massive name in Scottish football and I'm looking forward to having the chance to play under him.

"There were a few clubs in England and Scotland who were interested but the gaffer was that insistent in getting me down here to see the place that I really felt wanted.

"I know some people will ask why I am joining a club in League Two but when you look around the place and see the ground and the training ground you realise the stature and the ambition of the club.

"I wanted a new challenge and I want to win things. I've played against the Celtics and Rangers four times a season for a good number of years and now I want to try something different.

"I've wanted to play in England for a long time and I see this is a great opportunity and once I spoke to the gaffer I knew this was right for me and a move that could progress my career."

McCracken, a former Scotland U21 international, is convinced Lambert is the man to help his career kick on.

He said: "I was a Scottish U21 international but I've not been near the full squad and that's where I want to be. I want to play for my country and hopefully if things go well here I might get noticed.

"I think Paul Lambert can help me do that. I want to come down here and learn and if I can do that he's obviously got good contacts in the SFA but it is up to me to show that I've got the ability to play in the full Scotland squad."

Wanderers have been chasing McCracken for six months and tried to sign him on loan during the January transfer window - but United would not release him then.

McCracken said: "I'm glad to be here now. A lot of people have said that I have played my best football in the six months since Dundee told me I was being released and maybe that was what I needed - a kick up the backside."

McCracken was on the bench for a Scottish cup final but has never won anything north of the border and he believes he can put that right at Adams Park.

He said: "My aim is to come here and win things. I saw that Wycombe were linked with Neil Lennon and that just shows their ambition. That just shows the stature of the gaffer and the stature of the club."

And after spending all his career at Tannadice in the shadow of Rangers and Celtic, McCracken can't wait to get stuck into Bury, Rochdale and Barnet instead.

"He said: "It's going to be nice going into the league season with a chance of winning something or getting to the play-offs. I want to win things."

McCracken, who says he is happy anywhere in the back four will now spend his summer hunting for a home for his wife and four-year-old daughter.

Blues boss Lambert is delighted to get him and says his capture makes up for the disapointment of missing out on his former Celtic team-mate Neil Lennon.

Lambert told the club's website: "David has played over 200 games at the highest level and he's come up against strikers like Larsson, Sutton and Hartson.

"He's a top quality signing and one that I'm sure our fans will be delighted with. We've pulled off a real coup in signing him."