PERFECT SIGNING
Crane is excited to be joining Livi
New Livingston defender Callum Crane believes he’s signed for the “perfect” club.
The 22-year-old put pen to paper on a two-year deal earlier this month and says he couldn’t sign the deal quickly enough.
The former Hibs player helped guide Alloa Athletic to promotion from League One during a loan spell with the Wasps last term and is keen to test himself at the highest level.
He said: “There had been interest from Livingston for a wee while but I just wanted to concentrate on doing well with Alloa and trying to get them promoted but after the season when the offer was formally made I couldn’t sign it quick enough.
“I’d kept an eye on their results and saw how they were getting on last term and for them to get promoted was an incredible achievement.
“There was a wee worry when the manager left but I spoke to Davie Martindale and he said it wouldn’t impact their interest so I was delighted to sign and the two year deal gives me stability.
“It’s good to know that you’re coming to a club where the coaching staff want you and have gone all out to offer you a deal. I really think Livingston are the perfect club for me right now.”
Crane, who was named in the PFA Scotland League One Team of the Year last term, spent a decade at Easter Road and was keen to thank the club despite having made just two appearances.
He commented: “I’d been at Hibs for 10 years and they always looked after me and did the best for me. We had a chat in January and they said they’d do everything they could to get the best full-time club for me and they did that.”
With pre- season at the Tony Macaroni Arena getting underway yesterday ( Wednesday), the youngster is already eyeing up the mouth-watering Premiership opener at Celtic Park, saying: “It doesn’t really get any bigger than Celtic away in the first game but that’s where you want to challenge yourself. I actually said to my brother the day before that I had a feeling it would be at Parkhead so we had a laugh about that when the fixtures came out.
“By getting promoted to the Premiership, you earn the right to test yourself at places like that and I’m sure everyone at the club is looking forward to it.”
He added: “I’m looking to be playing regularly and putting in consistent performances. It’s early days and I know I need to get a good pre-season behind me and impress the new manager, whoever that will be, but I’m confident I can do that.”