JOHN Sweeney’s determination to prove he can still play at the highest level of Junior football could be good news for Kilbirnie Ladeside.

Blasties boss Budgie McGhie has moved to snap up the former Clyde midfielder from St Rochs where he has played with distinction for the past 18 months since he made the shock decision to obtain a transfer from Pollok and drop down a couple of leagues to play for the Central First Division outfit.

He was a key figure as the Candy Rock came agonisingly close to winning promotion last season, finishing third in the standings behind Larkhall Thistle and champions Cambuslang Rangers who were one of several clubs keen to sign him after word got out that he did not want to play another season at District level.

But it is Kilbirnie who have won the race for his signature and the prospect of retracing his steps to the West Region’s top level is not fazing the 29- year-old who has vowed to repay McGhie for giving him the opportunity to prove his worth all over again.

Last night he said: “The positive impression I got from meeting Budgie and his assistant manager Gordon Robertson in midweek convinced me this was the right move for me.

“Kilbirnie are a massive club and the management team have ideas and designs to take the club to the very top of the Junior tree and I really want to take the journey with them.

“Nobody needs to tell me there are a lot of people in the game of the mind that I am a busted flush and only good enough for the lower leagues so my target is to prove my doubters wrong on and off the pitch.

“Sheer frustration has led to bouts of indiscipline creeping into my game and my intention is to put that mindset to bed while at the same time putting in the hard work on the training ground and gym to get myself fit enough to play at the higher grade.

“Budgie is putting a lot of faith in me and I won’t let him down.”

Sweeney is one of four confirmed newcomers to Valefield along with Corey Hughes (Greenock), Gavin Stokes (Maryhill) and Peter McGill (Clydebank). However, it is believed McGhie is not after Sweeney’s former midfield team-mate Rab McGuire, whose decision to leave St Rochs has made his signature much sought after.

He was reputed to have shaken hands on a deal to join Cumbernauld United, but Evening Times Sport understands he was in signing talks with the new Shettleston management team of James McKenna and Keith Docherty last night.

Guys Meadow gaffer Andy Frame is thought to be still on the player’s trail but he re-adjusted his sights over the weekend to sign former Irvine Meadow and Maryhill forward Willie Wells as well as ex-Rob Roy goalkeeper Jordan Brown.

Elsewhere on the transfer front, Scottish Junior Cup winners Glenafton have signed a new goalkeeper in Scott Watson who is regarded as a replacement for Blair Lochhead, last season’s stand-by No 1 who is thought to have made his final appearance for the side in Saturday’s 2-0 Evening Times Champions Cup success over Glasgow Perthshire.

Glens boss Craig McEwan is also believed to have strengthened his hand for the defence of his side’s League and Cup crowns with the capture of former Loch Park midfielder James McKernon from Queens Park.

However, he faces competition to land another ex-Glens player, Michael Wardrope, with Super Premier Division rivals Auchinleck Talbot and Kilwinning Rangers also in pursuit following the midfielder’s release by Ayr United.

Meanwhile, Auchinleck Talbot and Largs Thistle played out a 0-0 stalemate in the meaningless last league game of the West Region’s 2016/17 season.

Already relegated Largs included several trialists in their line-up as did the visiting Bot - whose manager Tommy Sloan played in midfield - in order to rest players ahead of tomorrow’s Ayrshire Cup final against Cumnock.