Alan McFadden is champing at the bit to play Junior football at a higher level again after signing for Super First Division outfit Kilsyth Rangers.

The pacy striker, who previously sampled top-flight football playing with Larkhall Thistle and Arthurlie, was skipper of the East Kilbride Thistle side that won promotion from the Central Second Division last season.

And his Show Park departure is just the latest hammer blow to befall new Jags boss Alan Patterson, who was handed the reins following the resignation of previous hotseat incumbent Billy Campbell.

Junior rivals have plundered away all but a handful of the successful Jags squad.

However, Faddy believes his one-time Jags team mate Patterson is eminently suited to carry out the necessary rebuilding job.

He said: "Alan and his backroom team of Billy Dolan ,Paul Bain and Stephen McLung (all ex-Thistle players) were previously in charge of E.K Amateurs and I can see them making full use of their knowledge of the best players at that level so getting bodies on board will not be a problem.

“It’s going to mean huge changes at the club, but that’s not altogether surprising as we had some terrific young players last season who were always going to attract attention from higher league clubs.

“Liam McLaughlin is a case in point and his move to Cumnock will no doubt have raised a few eyebrows, but ability oozes out of the lad and I don’t think he will look out of place playing in the Super Premier Division.”

Faddy might be unkindly regarded as being at the opposite end of the spectrum given he is now 34 years of age.

However, he admits there was no thinking about it when Kilsyth manager Keith Hogg made him a contract offer.

He said: "Hoggy is someone I’ve known ever since we first came up against each other when I played for Arthurlie in the 2007 Scottish Junior Cup semi-final against his Linlithgow Rose side.

“The utmost respect I had for him as a player has carried on as he has impressively started to establish himself as a Junior manager.

"So there was no hesitation on my part when he asked me to come in and have a look at their set up at the end of last season.

“I was flattered to have received signing approaches from several clubs - possibly more than I ever thought was going to be the case - but being honest my mind was made up on Kilsyth Rangers after watching their play-off game at home to Kilwinning Rangers.

“The quality of the players on show and the superb playing surface made it a very easy decision for me to make and I’d most probably have put pen to paper there and then if Keith had not been pre-occupied with his team.

"And I’m even more convinced that I made the right call after taking part in a few pre-season training sessions under Kevin McBride as the standard of the drills and work outs has been really enjoyable."

Kilsyth’s top scoring marksman from last time out, Paul McBride, has opted to relinquish his Duncansfield dressing room peg and retire from playing due to a mixture of work and family commitments however Faadded: "Ian Diack and Scott Davidson are two quality front men who have stayed on board and there’s also a very highly regarded first season Junior in Andy McLaughlin who was part of Pollok’s Under 21 side last season.

“Hoggy's aim to have four strikers at his beck and call means the competition for the jerseys is going to be fierce however I wouldn’t have signed here if I didn’t think I could do him and Kilsyth Rangers a turn.

“This is a dream opportunity to show I can still hack it at a higher level and it was just too good to turn down.”

Kilsyth boss Hogg was at pains last night to insist his recruitment of the veteran front man was not to make up the numbers .

He said: "I have people taking in games at lower league levels and just about every report on East Kilbride Thistle recommended Faddy as a potential signing so it was a no-brainer to get him fixed up once it was clear Paul was definitely hanging up the boots.

“His turn of pace will give us something extra in an attacking sense and I’m looking forward to seeing how he combines with our other forward players.

“Some people might regard it as odd that we are recruiting a striker from the Central Second Division but the truth is Faddy could and should have played at a much higher level in recent years but for deciding to play with his close mates rather than further his career.

“He’ll do well as will young McLaughlin despite the fact he works shifts and will not be available every week while our only other addition up to now is midfielder Martin Shiels from Sauchie Juniors.

“He’s a holding midfielder type but is also a good passer of the ball and he should have no problem adjusting to coming up against West Region opponents as he was previously on Petershill’s books.”

In other transfer news , Largs Thistle have snapped up the trio of Joel Kasabundi (Clydebank), Martin Orr (Greenock ) and Ryan McKie (ex-Arthurlie) but are resigned to losing star striker James Marks who is thought to be on the verge of joining Hurlford United.