One signing in and two recalls

DAFC are delighted to announce the signing of defender, Kyle MacDonald from Airdrie, on a two and a half year contract after a mutually agreed compensation package was confirmed which involves a loan and sell on clause.

Kyle Macdonald has signed from Airdrieonians. The 21 year old who can play in a number of positions came through the youth system at Motherwell before signing for Airdrieonians for the 2019-2020 season.

Dunfermline Athletic would like to pass on our sincere thanks to Airdrie FC, for their help and assistance once again in working with us to agree a suitable arrangement for both clubs, despite all of the challenges we are facing which were, of course, further compounded this week.

Kyle will return to Airdrie on loan, for the rest of the season, once the SPFL League 1 temporary suspension is lifted. He is available to play for DAFC in the meantime.

Having been brought up in East Kilbride, Kyle started his football at the Scotland club in Hamilton before being invited to join Motherwell at under 10 level. He made 29 appearances last season, 28 of those in the starting eleven. This season he has been almost ever present, starting 12 of a possible 15 Airdrie games.

It has also been confirmed that Dunfermline youngsters, Scott Cusick and Matty Todd have been recalled from their loan at Brechin City. The latter goes into the squad to play Morton on Friday night.

Dunfermline have been tracking Kyle and manager Stevie Crawford and his assistant Greg Shields watched him last Saturday in the Scottish Cup tie against Edinburgh City. Stevie said:-

“We are obviously delighted to bring Kyle to the club. We have been keeping an eye on him over the last twelve months or so. He has come up through the Motherwell Academy, we spoke to a number of people to get background and when you look at what he has done since he has gone to Airdrie - 40 plus appearances at League One level - for a young man who has just turned 21 the other day, it is exciting to bring him to the club.”

Kyle comes from a cohort at the Motherwell Academy who have gone on to make an impact at a higher level - Jake Hastie, David Turnbull, James Scott and Allan Campbell to name just four. Stevie said that a major attraction to the signing was the players game experience:-

“Sometimes when things don’t happen for you and you are at a Premiership club and you have to take a so called step backwards. He has not hidden from the fact that he wants to be a football player and it is a credit to him that he has gone and got all these appearances under his belt.

“He is flexible, he has played at right back for Airdrie but we have seen him play at left back as well and I’m sure that he is one of these boys who you could ask to play in the middle of the park and give you 100 per cent.

“That is a trait that I look for in players, that they are flexible and willing to play in other positions. That is important because of what football throws at you through suspensions, injuries or loss of form.

“I had a conversation with him to point out that he is coming to a place where he is going to have to compete for the jersey. There is no guarantee that he will come here and start games. I have had these conversations with experienced players that I have brought to the club and talking to him he saw it as a really good move to a good club for the place he is in his career at the moment.

“Initially and dependent on when the suspension lifts regarding League One and League Two, it maybe that Kyle goes back to Airdrie on loan to see the season out. Other than that it is great that the club has given us the backing to develop a player over a two year period.”

With Greg Shields, Jason Dair and Steven Whittaker as coaches, Kyle will have no shortage of expertise at Dunfermline who have played his position. Stevie commented:-

“I think people forget that Jason also played full back. Naturally he was a wide player in a 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 formation but Jason proved over the years that he could slot in at left back or right back at times if asked. Then of course we have Greg and Steven who know the position inside out. They will pass on their words of wisdom.

“We feel that there is player there that we can help and make better. He is very keen to come to an environment that gives him the opportunity to do that.”


Look out for Kyle Macdonald’s first interview at Dunfermline tomorrow.

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