East East admits his season at Albion Rovers helped him love football again after sealing a move to Queen of the South.
The attacker was one of the standouts last season for Rovers' netting eight times during the curtailed League Two campaign.
Boss Brian Reid had hoped to keep the 20-year-old at Cliftonhill but he turned down a new deal as he searched for full-time football.
After penning a deal with The Doonhamers in the Championship, East admits it was a hard decision to end his spell in Coatbridge.
East told Lanarkshire Live Sport : "Albion Rovers really helped me start enjoying my football again.
"That's probably the club I have most enjoyed myself at but full-time football is what I needed at this time.
"I'd always said to Brian [Reid] when I was offered the deal I was going to try and get something full-time to make the next step, but I would have love to come back.
"I didn't want to write anything off, and if I was to stay in League Two I wouldn't have wanted to play for anybody else."
East reckons former Rovers' and Queen's Park teammate Gregor Fotheringham will be the key to a successful campaign this term for his former side.
"I think it's a really good signing bringing Fozzy [Fotheringham] back and they seem to have added a good standard of player to the squad.
"I think they will do well this season."
Follow Lanarkshire Live Sport on Twitter via @LanLiveSport, like us on Facebook or find us on Instagram for the latest sports news, pictures and video.
