Goalkeeper Matt McGinley says Rutherglen Glencairn boss Willie Harvey sold him on a move back to the club that kick-started his career.
McGinley left Lowland League club East Kilbride earlier this summer, and there were several clubs interested in signing him.
But talking to Harvey convinced the 31-year-old that his future lay with the West of Scotland League club.
The Lesmahagow High PE teacher started at Glencairn in 2011 and went on to enjoy spells at Morton and Albion Rovers, before heading to the Lowland League with first BSC Glasgow and East Kilbride.
He said: “I’m delighted to be going back to Glencairn.
“As soon as Willie got in touch I knew it was something that interested me and I’m buzzing to be back.
“There were a few clubs interested in me and I was just desperate to get back playing.
“I went in and spoke to Willie, and he really sold it to me.
“A few of the boys that I played with before when I was at Albion Rovers and East Kilbride are there as well, so there are a few familiar faces in the dressing room.
“I left East Kilbride to get back to playing and it’s a good level to be playing at, so I’ve still got plenty of good years left in me yet.
“I want to play for as long as I can, and this is a good level in which to do that.”
McGinley says the West of Scotland League Premier Division will be a challenging league, with seven sides facing relegation next summer, but it’s one he’s relishing.
He said: “It will be a strong league next season, it will be a challenge, but that’s something that I’m looking forward to. I’m sure it will just be a case of solidifying yourself against all these relegation places and then take it from there, see how high up the table you can finish.
“It’s going to be interesting, and there’s no doubt about it that it will be a tough challenge with some of the teams involved, especially with so many relegation spots for next season.
“We will want to solidify ourselves in the league and finish as high up the table as we can.”
McGinley will join the club for pre-season training ahead of their first friendly match on June 23 against local rivals Cambuslang Rangers.
League fixtures for the new West of Scotland League have yet to be announced ahead of the July 17 kick-off for all levels in the setup.
However, Glens will find out this week about one of their first cup fixtures for next season. On Friday the draw for the South Challenge Cup will take place and there will be regionalised draws for the first and second round.
The Glens are in the North-West zone, which is made up of 40 clubs including the likes of Saltcoats Victoria, Irvine Meadow, Ardrossan Winton Rovers and Clydebank.
In round one for each zone except the South-East there will be eight ties and 24 clubs will receive ‘byes’ . Round two will consist of 16 ties in each zone with the winners of the ties progressing to round three, which is all in.
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