KENNY HADDEN has spent almost his entire Junior career under the tutelage of current Petershill boss Willie Patterson.

So the seasoned defensive stalwart doesn’t require to be told of the need to be at peak fitness and playing at the top of his game to stand any chance of holding down a place in the hard taskmaster’s team plans.

That in part helps to explain why one time Drumchapel Amateurs prospect Kenny held talks over his footballing future with mentor Willie this week prior to extending his loan spell at Rutherglen Glencairn for a further month.

And the 30-year-old insists he intends to regularly chew the fat with his Peasy gaffer before deciding whether the time has come to sever their long-standing ties in favour of securing a permanent transfer move elsewhere.

Milton based Kenny revealed: “I actually signed back on again for Petershill in May before heading out to the USA for contractual work reasons.

“It’s not my first visit, I reckon this is the eighth time I’ve carried out coaching courses for Challenger Sports in the New England, New York and Boston areas working with young children, some of whom have never previously kicked a ball.

“ I became involved after qualifying from a Sports Coaching Course taken here in Glasgow and being approached to ask if I was prepared to commit my time and energies into helping develop the game across there and it’s been a hugely enjoyable experience even though I’ve decided this latest trip will be my last.

“Putting the glorious weather aside, the USA is simply miles ahead of Scotland in terms of top-class facilities and you can travel to any state and find thousands of young kids working on their skills in order to play the game at a decent level.

“I’ve came across some truly outstanding talents and built strong relationships with a lot of top people including the former Manchester United defender John Curtis who came up through the ranks at Old Trafford alongside the likes of the Neville brothers, David Beckham and Paul Scholes.

“John's contacts helped land me a lucrative post working for Everton whose network in the USA is extensive, but not having my Uefa B Licence proved a hindrance and in November I opted to return to Scotland and, of course, to Petershill and Willie where my loyalties lie as a player.”

Kenny continued: “Unfortunately or fortunately depending upon one’s perspective, Willie has put together a very strong playing pool with no shortage of quality defenders and I’ve struggled to make any sort of breakthrough…not helped by a lack of fitness and sharpness on my part.

“I’m keen to be involved given that things are looking up for Willie on the team front with Stephen McGladrigan close to a comeback that is sure to provide a significant scoring boost on top of the recent signing of winger Ciaron McElroy.

“But travelling as part of the squad to places like Hurlford and finding myself not even getting stripped has been demoralising to say the least and things got to the stage where I asked Willie to let me drop down to play amateur football.”

Not surprisingly, a wily Patterson thought different however and Hadden’s ability to cover many defensive bases…he has previously filled both Peasy full-back positions as well as in central defence…led to the Springburn gaffer brokering a loan deal with his former club Rutherglen Glencairn intended to buy time for the versatile ace to work on his fitness and cram in some much needed match practice.

Kenny added: “Initially I toyed with the idea of joining St Roch's but the prospect of returning to my former club and teaming up again with my old team-mate Tony Fraser was too good to turn down.

“That said, not everything has gone to plan with the horrendous weather conditions of late ensuring I have managed just a solitary outing for the Glens in a 3-2 defeat by Shotts Bon Accord.

“I’ve bedded into a new dressing room with no real problems but I owe it to the Glens manager Willie Harvey to abandon the idea of training with both clubs each week in favour of doing two nights at New Southcroft Park to get to know the players better.

“I’m not giving up on Petershill but things can change quickly in football and Willie Patterson has promised to keep me up to date if circumstances change at the club to the extent he sees a playing opportunity that suits both of us.”