MARK BLAKEY today revealed the reason behind his shock move from Arthurlie to Lowland League outfit East Kilbride.

The defender was understandably earmarked as a defensive cornerstone at Dunterlie Park after a stalwart display in their New Coin Holdings West of Scotland Cup winning side.

However, that 4-2 victory over Kilwinning Rangers proved to be his last outing in Sky Blue.

Within a matter of weeks, the Barrhead club’s longest-serving player had instead pledged his future to EK’s management team of Billy Ogilvie and Ross Wilson.

The 27-year-old said: "The signing opportunity put me in a bit of a quandary, not least because my Dad is the current Arthurlie president, but I found myself warming to the idea of a change of scene and felt it was a case of now or never.

“The people at Arthurlie know I would never have left to join another Junior club, but going into a new league, playing new venues and facing different opponents as well as having the chance to earn promotion into the Senior ranks, was difficult to turn down.

“East Kilbride boast a decent set-up with a dressing room containing other ex-Juniors in Sean Winters (Arthurlie) and Barry Russell (EK Thistle), as well as a number of former pro-youth players and I’ve enjoyed adjusting to my new surroundings.

“I’ve played in three games and scored my first goal in a 1-1 draw with Clyde, whose travelling squad included an injured David Gormley (ex-Auchinleck), so there are no regrets on my part.

”But it will really hit home that I’m no longer an Arthurlie player when their pre-season friendlies get underway tomorrow with a home game against Linlithgow because it will be hard to escape from my Dad talking of nothing else, particularly if the team play well!”

Lie gaffer Robert Downs has wasted no time in snapping up David Mackay of Vale of Clyde as a left-sided replacement and he has also captured Gary Carroll (Cumbernauld) as well as his former Bellshill central defender Steven Tart, who had been training with Queen's Park.

The newcomers will help make up an 18-man squad for the game against the East Region big guns – only Danny Burns and Kieron Maxwell are unavailable – as Downsy looks to hone his side for the competitive challenges ahead.

He added: "One or two further additions could be in the offing given we have a number of players in training with us just now, but nobody will be coming on board unless they are capable of enhancing the squad.

“All the guys have worked hard and I’m pleased with how things are progressing in terms of fitness, however it’s more important to look good in the heat of the action rather than the training ground, so it will be interesting to see how we cope with the questions Linlithgow are sure to pose.

"The result is not everything, but in front of our own fans I’d certainly prefer if we were the winning side.”

Elsewhere, Petershill supporters could get a first glimpse of as many as 14 close-season signings – including latest additions James Brough (East Kilbride) and Kieron McAnespie (Kilbirnie) – for the visit of a youthful Partick Thistle XI.

Clydebank’s travelling party for the trip to Dumbarton is swelled by the additions of Hashim Cole and Joel Kasabundi after Bankies boss Budgie McGhie completed their transfers from Vale of Clyde.

Also on the road are Rob Roy, who head to Glenafton’s pre-season Joe Meldrum Memorial Tournament in buoyant mood following the surprise acquisition of their highly-rated former frontman Kevin Watt, who was understood to have joined Annan Athletic.

Delighted gaffer Stewart Maxwell revealed: "I heard Kevin was disillusioned with the travelling, so I kept things hush-hush until getting his name on a new contract.

“He’s tried and trusted at Junior level, so getting someone of his calibre on board will give a massive lift to players and supporters alike.”

Meanwhile, one change to today’s friendlies fixture list sees the Armadale v Kilsyth match cancelled due to a dates mix-up.