Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Andy McGilvray

East Kilbride boss looking for 'at least four more' signings, with a fourth on the way

East Kilbride boss Kevin Rutkiewicz is looking to bring in at least four more new signings to bolster his squad for next season's Lowland League title tilt.

The former Aberdeen and St Johnstone star has brought in defenders Jonathan Page, Conor Morgan, and 26-year-old midfielder Andy Black from Kelty Hearts, with a fourth on the horizon.

The club are in talks with Portuguese striker Joao Victoria over a new contract, while defender Jamie Stevenson, midfielder Chris Millar and goalkeeper Connor Brennan have all left K-Park, while Luke Kenny has returned to St Mirren, following his loan.

Rutkiewicz says he's in talks with various potential targets, but says they have to want to come to East Kilbride for the right reasons.

He said: "I'm pleased so far. We're having to be a wee bit patient, but we're delighted with some of the business that we're doing, and hopefully that will continue.

"It's obviously a very important time, and you're only as good as your recruitment, really, so we're hoping to get a few more over. We have another announcement possibly coming today.

"We can then keep forging forward. We're speaking to a lot of people, but we don't have a plethora of offers out there, because I think we have to be absolutely sure, once we start putting out offers.

"They've got to want to come to East Kilbride for the right reasons. We have to make sure players are arriving here hungry, desperate to be here, and desperate to come on the journey."

Jonathan Page is a player Rutkiewicz has long been an admirer of (SNS Group)

Rutkiewicz added: "We're talking to Joao Victoria at the moment, that's an on-going one, and Chris Millar and Jamie Stevenson have left the club. Jamie has agreed a contract with Berwick, and we otherwise would have had a discussion, he did really well for me and I loved having him about the club, so there is a wee tinge of disappointment there.

"Chris Millar, I played with for five or six years at St Johnstone and it was a very hard decision.

"If you look at it, if you take out the young boys, we're probably sitting around six or seven, so we have at least four to bring in.

"We're certainly looking to bring in another three or four at least, maybe five. The obvious one to address is a goalkeeper, and we're actively talking to several parties.

"We'd love to have our squad done and settled, and ready to go, but that's just not how football works.

"Sometimes you have to be that little bit more content, but we're happy and the last seven days for us have been good, for us."

Rutkiewicz says Jonathan Page is a player who has a wealth of experience, Conor Morgan brings a bit of fire, and ex-Kelty Hearts star Andy Black, 26, is a dynamic holding midfielder.

Kilby are in talks with striker Joao Victoria over a new contract (Ian Edwards)

He said: "Johnny is a player I've always been well aware of, and I like his age. He's in his early-30s, he comes with a wealth of experience, but speaking to Johnny, he just seems to have the bit between his teeth at the minute.

"I'm hoping to see an experienced player, somebody who is eager to help push the club towards a successful season.

"Big Conor is a player who came in to Stirling after Covid, we had a look at him. He hadn't trained in a long time and had to play football, so we manoeuvred him into Rossvale and we [would have] had first dibs on him, at Stirling. Bill and I moved quickly.

"He's a big presence, he's 6ft 5ins, a placid fellow off the park, but certainly brings a bit of fire on it. He impressed in the games that I managed to get to, to see how he has developed, and I'm excited for him.

"We're still looking to add in there, but I do feel that area is looking a bit more healthy.

Jamie Stevenson has left East Kilbride for Berwick Rangers (Lennox Herald)

"Andy Black is a holding midfielder, but a very dynamic holding midfielder. He's not the sitting-off type, he's very front-footed and very aggressive in the way that he plays.

"Andy is a player that I've always liked, I've tried to nab him a couple of times and haven 't been successful. Kelty were looking to keep him, but he wanted to come and be part of something that is hopefully going to be pretty special.

"Andy and I have built up a really good relationship over the last couple of years, talking to each other at every transfer window, but the timing just felt right for this one.

"He has taken a big leap of faith in us, to come here from League One, so we're delighted to get him on board."

Follow Lanarkshire Live Sport on Twitter via @LanLiveSport, like us on Facebook or find us on Instagram for the latest sports news, pictures and video.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.