Martin Hardie to sign

Jim McIntyre told the audience at Thursday night's Meet the Manager night that he will be signing Martin Hardie on Friday.

Martin Hardie celebrating a goal at East End Park

Jim McIntyre told the audience at Thursday night's Meet the Manager night that he will be signing Martin Hardie on Friday.

The 34 year old former Partick thistle, Kilmarnock and St Johnstone midfielder joins until the end of the season

"Martin Hardie has been training with us for the last few weeks; he played a bounce match against Motherwell yesterday and did very well. We have agreed terms with Martin for the rest of the season.

"A battling midfielder is something that I have wanted for a while. With the loss of Steven Bell that heightens that factor because you don't have the aerial threat which is not just about him winning headers in the middle of the park. The goalkeeper's kick out get headed on to him and gets you started in games where they are tight and when the opposition stop you from throwing it to the full backs. Sometimes you need to go long and to have somebody who is good in the air and win the flick. Steven Bell did it tremendously well and you can see how much we have missed him since he has been injured.

"We are really pleased to get Martin and hopefully he can have that bit of luck injury wise that he has not had for a long time."

"I am really pleased with our recent signings: Rutkiewicz is a leader, he doesn't mess about. The boys will tell you that in training. He is a great talker and you can see the lift in training during the last couple of weeks with the new additions.

"Liam (Buchanan) is a goalscorer; he will score goals and I don't think you can have enough of them. I have like Liam for a long time and the opportunity arose with Wullie (Gibson) moving on it was good for us.