Rangers striker Hardie is signed ‘I can’t wait to play for my local club’
Being at Livi was my boyhood dream
Livingston have signed striker Ryan Hardie on loan from Rangers for the 2018/19 season - although the Scotland under-21 hitman won’t be fit for the start of the campaign.
Hardie netted eight times for the Lions last term, finishing joint-top scorer for the club despite only arriving in the January transfer window.
However, an ankle injury sustained in the final league game of the season - a 2-0 loss away to Dundee United - ruled him out for their successful play-off run.
His success in the Championship led to him being offered a new one-year deal with his parent club, although he was then promptly farmed back out to Livi for the full campaign.
Interim manager David Martindale admitted the move had been in the works since promotion to the top flight was sealed.
He commented:“Ryan is a deal that we were desperate to get done and I want to thank Rangers
Harthill lad Ricki Lamie dreamed of turning out at Almondvale as a youngster - and says he can’t wait to represent the club in Scotland’s top flight.
The defender, who turned 25 last week, was always keen to grace the Livingston turf in regional youth tournament finals during his younger years and admits he’s delighted to get the chance to play for his local club.
The former Greenock Morton man, who had a loan spell at Bathgate Thistle in 2012, said: “Livingston is my local team and they’re who I always followed growing up. I played boys’ club football in West Lothian and most of the regional cup finals were held at Almondvale so it would always be the aim heading into every season to get to play at the stadium.
“That was really the pinnacle, to be able to play there, so it’s kind of funny how it’s worked out that I’m now going to be playing my football here. It’s a great move for me and I’m really looking forward to the challenge.”
He added: “It was a tremendous achievement from the boys to make the step up and get into the Premiership and it’s a great opportunity for everyone top flight since 2006, Lamie says his personal goal is to contribute as much as possible in order to achieve safety.
He commented: “It’s really just a case of going out there and playing as well as I can whenever I’m called upon.
“I want to play as many minutes as possible in the Premiership and I’ll work hard every day in training, and on the park, to try and achieve that.”
He added: “If I’m picked to play then brilliant, I’ll give my best in every game but it’s going to be a very difficult league and we’ll need a good, fit and healthy squad to give ourselves the best chance of success.
“Nobody here is under any illusions as to how hard we’ll need to work. There will be times we’ll need to adapt and change our style of play and that’s when folk who maybe aren’t playing every week might be called upon and need to be ready if we’re to compete with teams in this league.”