Thistle look forward to top test
East Kilbride boss Stevie Aitken has cleared the decks of their top scorer and a fan favourite to make way for 10 high profile signing targets.
Ruari Paton and Kieran Gibbons left for Stranraer and East Stirling, respectively, earlier this week and Aitken says that just means he can focus on recruitment.
The gaffer is putting his full focus on recruitment and is targeting a full squad revamp ahead of the return of Lowland League football.
“The focus is on recruitment,” said
Aitken, when asked about interest in Paul Paton, Chris Erskine, and Kyle Hutton.
“It was leaked out that we were interested in those three players and we didn’t hide behind the fact that those are the kind of players we want to get in.
“I had to make a decision on a lot of players that I hadn’t really seen a lot of, but the biggest factor was that I had to clear space in the squad for the players I’m going to bring in, for the players that I want to target. I have a lot of players coming in.
“Talks are ongoing but there are eight, nine, ten offers on the table out there, it’s not just those players. There are a lot of other players who are at the same kind of level, so we’re working through the list.
“You never get them all, but you aim high and then if you don’t get that you work down the list that you’ve got.
“We’re working hard, but these things take time, especially when the season is two months away.
“It’s still miles away before we can even start back training, but we’re working every day and getting closer, so hopefully in the coming weeks we can start announcing signings.”
Aitken is keen to take East Kilbride to the senior ranks of Scottish football and admits he’s surprised they’re still in the Lowland League.
He said: “As a community and as a club that has the driving force behind it that the owners have, they really probably should have made the step before now.
“I can’t comment on what went on in the past and what went wrong, but in terms of what they’ve got behind them with resources, building a new stadium, creating jobs etc, East Kilbride should be a team that should start going through the senior ranks.
“Once we make that first initial step into it then they’ll keep going, and provide a really good football club in the town.”