EK SWOOP TO SIGN SPENCE
Former Accies midfielder arrives at K-Park
East Kilbride boss Mick Kennedy admits the club being close to home for dad-to-be Lewis Spence was the key to the exHamilton Accies star signing last week.
The 27-year-old midfielder – whose previous clubs also include Dundee and Ross County – was playing in League One with Edinburgh City until he was released last month.
And he has chosen to join Kilby on a short-term deal until the end of the season.
It is a move Kennedy revealed “fell into their lap”as the
Uddingston-based player was keen to join a club nearby, with baby Spence due in February.
“It was hard to get Lewis [to make the step down to the fifth tier]. It took us a full 10 days to convince him but a few things fell into our lap,” said Kennedy.
“When you are trying to sign boys from higher leagues, things need to all fall into place for it to come off.
“For Lewis, he’s about to become a dad in February. He lives in Uddingston and training isn’t far from his house.
“I think he had some other really good offers but there was a fair bit of travelling involved.
“There were a lot of circumstances that kind of fell into our lap a bit and that’s how it dragged on a wee bit.
“He has signed a short-term deal until the summer and once the baby is born, he might reassess things.
“I don’t know if we will be able to keep hold of him long-term. It is more us having suitable circumstances more than anything else.
“He has not played a lot of football in the last few weeks since he was released by Edinburgh, but he’s been in training with us, he’s in good nick and will be available for Saturday.”
Spence will join fellow recent signing John Robertson in the squad for Saturday’s clash at home to Caledonian Braves and Kennedy says there could be a third new addition by the time the game comes along.
He added: “We are hopeful of getting one more in, a striker. We have agreed terms with the player, it is just about some things out with his club so we will need to see what happens in the next few days.
“It will be a permanent transfer. “We have scored over 100 goals this season but I think our centre forwards have scored about eight of those, so we need to get a bit more firepower in at the top end of the pitch. It’s a deal we are keen to get done.”