Kilbirnie Ladeside boss Stevie Swift held off stiff competition to seal a double signing swoop last night with the capture of highly rated former Senior duo Darren Miller (Dumbarton) and Kevin Turner (East Stirling).

Both players trained alongside their new team-mates in midweek and are in contention to make their debuts in tomorrow’s Super Premier Division clash away to Troon…much to the satisfaction of the ambitious Swift who had unashamedly put himself out on a limb in his efforts to snare both signatures.

Top flight rivals Shettleston, Auchinleck Talbot and Irvine Meadow were amongst the sides allegedly left frustrated by midfielder Miller and striker Turner opting to throw in their lot with the Blasties.

And a delighted Swifty revealed, “I couldn’t be more happy with the overall make-up of our playing squad now that Darren and Kevin are on board.

“We had to balance the books somewhat by allowing Liam McGuiness to join Kilwinning; however, it’s exciting to think of an engine room that will have Darren, Stevie Meechan, Mark Staunton and Davie Anderson vying for places.

“And landing a front man of Kevin’s renown is exactly the shot in the arm we needed given that Adam Forde has been recently sidelined with ligament damage which, thankfully, an MRI scan this week has revealed is not as bad as initially feared and is only a slight tear rather than a full blown rupture, so chances are he will be pulling on the boots again around six weeks from now.

“I cannot wait to have a full playing deck because if the gelling process doesn’t take too long and we can get a winning run going then who knows where Kilbirnie might end up in the table?”

The Dennistoun born and raised Miller ,whose highly successful stint with Queens Park last season saw him included in the SPFL Division Two team of the year prior to Dumbarton enticing him away during the summer months, has more recent Junior experience with the Irvine Meadow side that were beaten Scottish Junior Cup semi-finalists the season before last.

He admitted, “I cannot wait to get back to the Juniors where hopefully I can rediscover my best form and enjoy my football again.

“That’s not always been the case over the past 5/6 months and my only reason for hesitating over reinstatement came from taking my time to decide what club would be best for me.

“Medda undoubtedly had a great pull for me but my mind was made up by the hugely enjoyable training session with Kilbirnie and linking up with guys I know so well in Ryan Haxton, Mark Staunton and Keiran Donnelly.

“And to be fair, Swifty was not for taking 'No' as an answer and even parked himself in my living room with signing forms on Tuesday night, so it was definitely far easier to agree terms with him rather than walk away.

“It’s an extremely tough opener if I do get a starting jersey against what is apparently a very good Troon side, but I’m more than happy to give it my best shot.”

Kilbirnie were not the only club to make strengthening moves as word broke of Auchinleck clinching the transfer of Martin Findlay (son of five-times Junior Cup winning Talbot legend Ross ), who first featured on the Junior scene in last season’s Evening Times Champions Cup defeat by Pollok and has played as a trialist throughout pre-season training and friendly matches in the hope of landing a contract offer.

A string of impressive displays did the trick and the versatile youngster’s acquisition has coincided with the departure of another early season trialist Willie Wells, whose desire for a regular game led to him rejoining former club Maryhill.

And the tall winger celebrated a dream return to the Lochburn Park fold last Saturday by bagging a brace of goals as Jim Delaney’s young side started the Central First Division campaign with an impressive 6-2 defeat of Neilston.

Also making transfer news are strong going Hurlford United whose manager Darren Henderson snapped up ex-Dumbarton and Stirling Albion full back James Creaney in midweek and threw him in at the deep end with a starting appearance in the 5-1 Ardagh Glass Cup semi-final victory over Maybole.

Hendo admitted, “James is better known as a full back but we played him one up as a left midfielder where his use of the ball and delivery from out wide gave us a wonderful balance.

“He’ll come into contention to make his home debut against Beith tomorrow but we’ll delay naming a team until a few guys declare themselves fully recovered from knocks picked up down at the Ladywell Stadium.

“Best to be cautious rather than take chances at this stage of the season.”

PLAYING TOMORROW(Kick Offs 2PM): West Region Super Premier Division. Troon v Kilbirnie Ladeside, Hurlford Utd v Beith, Shettleston v Irvine Meadow, Petershill v Glenafton, Arthurlie v Pollok. West Region Super First Division. Clydebank v Cumbernauld Utd, Maybole v Largs Thistle, Bellshill Athletic v Winton Rovers, Cumnock v , Kilsyth Rangers, Rutherglen Glencairn v Yoker, Shotts Bon Accord v Greenock, Kilwinning Rangers v Blantyre Vics.West Region Central First Division. Larkhall Thistle v Neilston, Maryhill v Vale of Clyde, Johnstone Burgh v Renfrew, Dunipace v Lesmahagow, Wishaw v Carluke Rovers, St Anthonys v St Rochs, Thorniewood Utd v Rossvale.West Region Central Second Division. Gartcairn v Royal Albert, Ashfield v Port Glasgow, Benburb v Cambuslang Rangers, Newmains Utd v Lanark Utd, East Kilbride Thistle v Glasgow Perthshire, Forth v Vale of Leven. West Region Ayrshire District Division. Girvan v Craigmark, DalryThistle v Annbank Utd, Saltcoats Vics v Lugar Boswell, Irvine Vics v Muirkirk, Darvel v Ardeer Thistle, Whitletts Vics v Kello Rovers.