JOSH EXIT AS KILLIE EYE McLEOD
JOSH MAGENNIS last night completed a £200,000 move to Charlton Athletic — with Kilmarnock considering Notts County striker Izale McLeod as a potential replacement. Magennis has signed a two-year contract with the English League One club after the Rugby Park side accepted an improved offer. Kilmarnock had hoped the Northern Ireland international could be persuaded to sign a new contract, but Magennis wanted to continue his career south of the border. Manager Lee Clark is now stepping up his attempts to land attacking reinforcements, with 31-year-old McLeod thought to be one name in the frame. ‘We put up a fight, myself and the board, and tried to convince him that his future was here,’ said Clark of Magennis. ‘But Josh made his feelings clear and he wants to go down to England and test himself.’ Charlton manager Russell Slade was thrilled to add Magennis to his squad after seeing an initial bid rejected. ‘Josh will give us a real physical presence up front,’ said Slade. ‘He has progressed his career over recent years and I see him as a late developer because the early part of his career, as many people will know, wasn’t as a forward. ‘He has developed that, has got himself in his national team and featured in the Euros this summer. He can score a goal, has got pace, will bring plenty to us and will cause a lot of problems to back fours in this league. ‘He was a target that we had been trying to get over the line for a few weeks. In fact, we had him done at one stage, but it didn’t happen because the goalposts were moved. But we dealt with that situation in a really professional manner and managed to get our man.’ MARK WILSON