Two new signings delight manager

Allan Johnston was simply "delighted" with the business he did on Friday.

On the signing of Joe Cardle and Sean Murdoch, the manager said:-

"I’ve been speaking to the boys now for more than a month, trying to get them in and trying to get it sorted and I’m just finally glad that they are on board.

"I had looked at Joe Cardle when I was at Queen of the South. I always liked him, he’s somebody who can go past people; somebody that can create chances and score goals as well. Naturally, if you get the chance to bring in somebody like that you are going to try and bring them in."

The manager feels that Joe may be a little behind his squad in terms of preparation for the new season but he added:

"He’s played 90 minutes so that is good and it might take a couple of weeks to catch up. To be fair to him he has been working hard himself, doing running and going to the gym but it is obviously not the same being part of a team and doing competitive training."

The manager is happy that he can see him playing on both sides of the park:-

"That's what I like about him – he is flexible and he is just somebody that can create chances. In the final third in the last couple of weeks, maybe the final ball sometimes has let us down and he is someone who can provide that."

Turning to his second keeper signing in a week, Allan Johnston said:-

" I had heard that Sean Murdoch was available and that he was looking to leave America. I think he was a wee bit homesick. We obviously had got talking to him and said that he would be delighted to come but he had to try and get away from his club at the time. We are glad that it has finally worked out and get him involved. We asked him to come in first to have a look at him, before we signed him.

"He does have a presence, he’s a big boy and the couple of days that he has been he is a good communicator talking to the back four and you are going to need that this year with such a young team. It is good to have that wee bit of experience. At his age for a goalkeeper it’s a really good age, just coming into their prime."

The manager felt that Sean had acquitted himself well against Queens Park when played as a trialist:-

"Obviously the first goal was a penalty and you don’t have any chance with that. The second goal took a deflection as well, but other than that he did well and he has done well in training in the days that he has been in. I’ve been impressed with him so far, he is somebody that is keen to do well and make a big impression."

When signing David Hutton the manager had said that two goalkeepers would fight it out for no.1 jersey "whoever is playing the best who will keep their place. There is no guarantees for anyone. It is up to them to perform and keep the goals out."

Now that two positions are off the shopping list the gaffer confirmed that he is still in for another couple of players.

"We are talking to a couple of players but we have been talking to Joe and Sean for a while. We have just got to be patient and that is what we have done so far and make sure that we get the right players in that will improve the team."

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