Former Celtic hero Darren O'Dea unveiled as first East Kilbride summer signing

East Kilbride have unveiled former Celtic star Darren O’Dea as their first signing of the close-season.

The East Kilbride News revealed how the former Celtic and Dundee defender was set to put his retirement plans on hold to join the Lowland League champions after holding informal talks with club.

Having now signed up for the next Lowland League campaign, he will begin his Kilby career in Betfred Cup Group H after the K-Park side were drawn against St Mirren, Dunfermline, Albion Rovers and Edinburgh City.

Just last week the 32-year-old announced he would be quitting full-time football for a coaching role with Motherwell’s under-18s.

Darren O'Dea in action for Dundee last season (SNS Group)

Now the Irishman’s move to EK has been confirmed, he has revealed he’ll juggle his role at Fir Park with turning out for the Kilby next season.

O’Dea said: “I’ve agreed to go down and help East Kilbride.

“I have lived in East Kilbride for 16 years and they are a club I know well and they are desperate to go up into the leagues.

“It is a big town and I can see a bright future for them.

“One thing I’m certain on is that I want to be a manager, but not for a long time. The workload of a manager is massive.

“Coaching the team is probably the easiest part and I can’t even do that just yet.

“I am very clear that I don’t see going from playing to coaching as natural.

“So I’m starting at the very beginning and I know I am a long way from stepping into a manager’s shoes.”

Darren O'Dea reached an international standard (Getty Images)

O’Dea lives close to Kilby’s home ground at K-Park and that was a big factor in his decision, allowing him to juggle his commitments up the road at Fir Park.

The former Republic of Ireland international started his career at Celtic, making 49 appearances for the Hoops and winning two league titles, before various spells in England with Reading, Ipswich Town, Leeds United and Blackpool.

He was sent off just 16 minutes into his final game for Dundee, which ended in a 3-2 defeat to St Mirren.

Meanwhile, EK manager Stuart Malcolm has confirmed he will be staying on next season after leading the team to the title and falling short in the SPFL play-offs.