Boss happy Austin is back at Bayview

Striker Nathan Austin has returned to East Fife on a two-year deal after leaving Kelty Hearts. Austin, 29, has spent the last four seasons with the New Central Park club, having helped them win the Lowland League and cinch League 2.

Boss Greig Mcdonald has hailed the return of the striker, stating on the club’s official website: “We’re delighted to bring Fash back to the club. He’s a quality striker who will bring experience and a track record of scoring goals.

“I’m looking forward to working with him. He’s a local lad who knows the club well and I’m sure he will complement our existing attacking players.”

Austin spent three years with East Fife, helping them win the League 2 Championship title in 2016 before spells with Falkirk and Inverness Caley Thistle.

The Austin signing comes days after the club announced new contracts for a number of its stars.

The likes of Allan Fleming, Jack Healy and Ryan Schiavone are all already signed up for next season.

Last week new one-year contracts were signed by first-team regulars Scott Shepherd, Stewart Murdoch, Alan Trouten and Connor Mcmanus.

Also signing on the dotted line for after the summer are Jonathan Page, Pat Slattery, Kieran Millar and Reece Beveridge.

Sam Denham, meanwhile, picked up a knee injury in the second leg versus Clyde and is still being assessed, while compensation will be received for Aaron Steele.

“I’m really happy to keep the nucleus of last season’s squad together,” Mcdonald told Courier Sport.

“It’s a squad we want to spend time with, we think it can get better.

“A couple of young guys in there, a few experienced players who we trust and then we’ll look to add quality as well, to help us push on and try and have a better season.”

Five loan players, including St Johnstone’s Alex Ferguson, have returned to their parent clubs and Mcdonald is planning on using that market a bit less after the summer.

He added: “We won’t be looking at as many loans next season. Possibly around Christmas we’ll maybe look at one or two.” Regardless of who joins, Mcdonald wants to continue the entertaining football they played in the last few months.

“It’s not always possible depending on what your opposition do or the conditions, that type of thing – especially in League Two where these things are a factor,” he said.

“We want to be able to pass the ball and we want to play. I’m not talking about overplaying in the wrong areas and that type of thing, we’ve got players there who like to pass the ball.

“So we play to our strengths and try to give the supporters something they enjoy watching. And I think they have in the main over the last few months.

“We’ll try and keep that going next year.”