Rutherglen Glencairn boss Willie Harvey has snapped up former Rangers youth midfielder Lee Cochrane and young ex-Kilmarnock youngster Callum Shields and says they will really make a difference to his side.
However, despite a glowing appraisal of Cochrane and the belief that Shields could return to the senior ranks, Harvey says neither of them should expect to walk straight into his team.
Cochrane signed this evening after it was pointed out to Harvey that he had done everything apart from actually get ink on the paper with the ex-Renfrew and Auchinleck midfielder.
And Harvey reckons he got lucky with Shields, having previous history with the family after signing his dad Joe as a striker at Blantyre Vics.
Harvey said: "Lee was with us last year towards the end of the season and has been in with us doing all the pre-season and all the training, and strangely enough it has been one of those crazy things where I hadn't realised he hadn't signed his forms.
"We had spoken about everything, but then Covid and everything hit, Lee had an injury and was away for a while, and it was one of those things where I had assumed I had him on a form!
"It was always my intention to sign Lee, so it was ideal to get it sorted out. We had already agreed everything, he proved himself last season and did really well throughout pre-season.
"He's played at a decent level at a young age and he probably hasn't been much of a regular but he's been on a good learning curve and has learned a lot of good things, which you can see in his training and the way he plays.
"Callum is a terrific young player and I don't doubt for a minute that he would still be with Kilmarnock had it not been for the lockdowns, no crowds and all of that, and the fact that Kilmarnock had done away with their reserve team.
"Luckily enough I knew his father, I signed his father Joe for Blantyre Vics away back in the day, so that gave me the first option to get hold of him.
"He's come in, played a couple of games and trained, and he looks a really tremendous prospect.
"I wouldn't be surprised to see him step back up to senior football, to be honest with you.\2
Harvey added: "Lee will push hard in the midfield and Callum has the option of playing at the back or in midfield. He's a young lad but he reads the game really well and I've been really impressed with him.
"There are players at the moment in the position, I've said to him not to think he's going to come and walk straight into the team, and all he asked for was opportunities.
"His attitude is terrific, he realises he needs to fight for his position, won't go in a huff and will keep trying to get into the team.
"That's the attitude you want, he's only 19 years old and he will do really well."
Harvey says it's 'one in, one out' at the club, with centre-half Terry Hewitt departing.
He said: "Big Terry Hewitt is leaving the club. Terry is at an age where he wants to be playing regularly, and I can't guarantee that, so he leaves with our blessing, he's a cracking big guy who trained very well and is a good big player, so we wish him alll the best."
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