EAST KILBRIDE BOSS MAKES HAT-TRICK OF SIGNINGS AND PROMISES MORE WILL FOLLOW

East Kilbride have strengthened further this week with a hat-trick of signings – but boss Mick Kennedy says there’s still plenty of fresh faces to follow.

The newly-promoted League Two side have snapped up winger Jack Healy who won promotion from League Two with East Fife last season, former Partick Thistle and Kelty Hearts left-sided midfielder James Lyon and winger Keir Foster from Lowland League Bo’ness United.

It takes Kilby’s summer signings to four after the capture of striker Ouzy See from Edinburgh City last week and Kennedy expects a few more in the door at K-Park over the coming days.

He said: “All three of the boys will be great signings for us.

“Jack has been on our radar since around January/February. We built a profile of the kind of players we wanted and we wanted to bring the average age of the squad down to work with a group in their early 20s who had played a significant amount of league games.

“I don’t think anyone would deny that Jack has been one of the most successful wingers in League Two last season. He had options to stay [at East Fife] and he had other options in League One, so it took a lot of work to get him across the line, but he will be a real asset.

“He fits the profile for us; he’s quick, dynamic, fit, strong and an ambitious young guy. I think he will do well for us.

“With Keir, he played against us twice last season. Sometimes it is hard for players to stand out against us because we have the ball so much, but I thought Keir had moments where he showed real quality.

“There was a bit of competition for him and we are delighted to bring him in. I think he will surprise people. He’s at a great age at 23, he’s physically very strong and he will be an excellent addition.

“And with James, we actually tried to bring him in before he went to Kelty. If you speak to anyone at Partick, it was a real surprise that James didn’t break through there.

“He maybe just didn’t have the physicality for the Championship, but in terms of his technical ability, he carries the ball really well. He’s only 22 but he’s played a few games in the leagues.”

Asked if more would follow, Kennedy said: “I imagine there will be another four or five this week. One is to get international clearance and two we are sorting the paperwork with their loan clubs, and maybe some others.”

The signing of a host of young players is a break from the club’s transfer policy in the past and Kennedy said he convinced the hierarchy that this will be the way to go in League Two, rather than any ‘big name’ signings.

He added:“We’ve said already there won’t be big name signings and we won’t be throw money at players.

“We agreed with the board and the owners that we would change the model, and that was driven by me to a large extent.

“I wanted to work with a younger group because the philosophy and culture at the club really suits young boys who want to breakthrough in their careers. It is up to us to build that platform for them and that is the model the club will go down now.

“I think it is best in terms of how I like to work and I think there is a real opportunity to build the right philosophy on the pitch, which will get players to buy into the culture.”

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2025-06-18T06:09:32Z