Johnstone Burgh boss Jamie McKim today admitted he’s “absolutely buzzing” after persuading former Rangers hitman Kyle Lafferty to join the Keanie Park revolution.
And he backed the iconic Northern Ireland striker to help fire the Renfrewshire club up to the WoSFL Premier Division – and beyond.
Lafferty’s capture is one of the biggest ever at West of Scotland League level and comes just a few months after Burgh made headlines when they announced the signing of former Scotland international and West Brom stalwart Graham Dorrans.
Linking up on a two-year deal, McKim can’t wait to get to work with the 35-year-old who was turning out in the Scottish Premiership just last season for Kilmarnock.
He started the Ayrshire club’s Viaplay Cup semi-final against Celtic in January, also picking up four more caps for Northern Ireland at the start of their Nations League campaign last summer.
McKim is adamant a Scottish Premiership club announcing Lafferty’s signing wouldn’t have raised any eyebrows given his pedigree and quality.
And he backed him to make a huge impact as Burgh aim to quickly climb up the Scottish football pyramid.
Speaking exclusively to Renfrewshire Live Sport, McKim said: “I’m absolutely buzzing to get Kyle’s signing over the line.
“We had our first meeting face-to-face about three weeks ago and it’s a huge statement from the club.
“Let’s be honest, if he’d signed for a Premiership team this week that wouldn’t have been unrealistic. His pedigree and record speaks for itself.
“He clearly could still cut it at that level – he was playing at a sold-out Hampden Park in January against Celtic in the League Cup semi-finals! It’s a massive move from us and he’s a top level, international player.
“Alongside Graham Dorrans, we now have more than 100 international caps between two Burgh players. I’m pretty certain that’s not happened before.
“That’s a big test for me as a manager but I’m buzzing for the challenge.
“To get him on a two-year deal is massive. He has bought into the project and he knows how ambitious we are as a club.
“We want to move up the leagues quickly and bringing in players of Kyle’s quality can only help us achieve that success.”
Influential forward Lafferty scored three times in the top flight last season before enjoying a short spell with Linfield in the second half of the campaign.
As well as his two stints with Rangers, Lafferty also turned out for Hearts in Scotland – as well as jaunts abroad with FC Sion, Palermo, Reggina and Anorthosis Famagusta among others.
A star for his country, he is Northern Ireland’s second-highest ever scorer after bagging 20 goals in an impressive 89 appearances.
And while accepting defences will probably target the towering forward, McKim insists it will take a brave stopper to try to outmuscle Lafferty.
He added: “Coming into close contact with him at our meetings so far, it’s clear the size and presence he has.
“Obviously as a top player he will get a lot of attention from opposition teams.
“He’ll have a big target on his back but he’s proven over the years he can cut it at the top level, so I’d back him to comfortably deal with that challenge.
“You’d need to be a brave man to try and target him anyway!
“I’ve said previously that we’re aiming to win the First Division this season and with signings like this, we have to target that or people would say we weren’t being ambitious enough.”
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