Livingston manager David Martindale admits even he didn't think the club could land Andrew Shinnie - until he walked into the building.
The 32-year-old penned a two-year deal yesterday having left English League One side Charlton Athletic and could be set to make his debut in tomorrow's Premier Sports Cup clash with Raith Rovers.
Shinnie was a team-mate of Livi assistant Marvin Bartley during a loan spell at Hibs five years ago and Martindale says that played a key role in bringing in the former Scotland international.
He said: "I'd been texting him and phoning him for about a week and he said that we had his word. But honestly, until he came into the building on Monday I was waiting for a call from his agent to say something had happened.
"He is a marquee signing for us and I think we will be a good fit for one another.
He is a good age as well and has played a lot of football at a good level. To get someone like that on our finances is a real bonus."
He added: "He is a player I’ve always liked but didn't think I would be able to attract to Livingston.
"He has taken a big drop in wages to come here but he believes in the project we have here at Livingston. A lot of people have spoken about the upward curve of the club over the past few years and he was aware of that.
"He told me he'd watched a lot of us over the years and he was well aware of the club.
"Marv was actually sitting with me and I asked him about Andrew and he said 'yeah he's one of my best pals' so I got him to give him a phone. His relationship with Andrew played a big part in getting him here.
“It is important to bring boys into the club who know what it is all about. He has a Scotland cap and will bring a lot to the football club.
"It's now about trying to get him up to speed as we still have a couple of Premier Sports Cup matches left before the league starts."
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