East Kilbride identify area for recruitment after crucial star's departure

East Kilbride boss Kevin Rutkiewicz says he’s ‘spinning plates’ in his search for a goalkeeper.

With Conor Brennan having left for Stenhousemuir, Rutkiewicz needs a shot-stopper, and probably back-up, ahead of the Lowland League kick-off.

That’s the K-Park club’s top priority, though Rutkiewicz might also bring in an extra forward player and a midfielder to complete his squad.

But the former Aberdeen and St Johnstone defender says his team is taking shape and is happy with recruitment so far.

He said: “Goalkeeper is now top priority, and we’re spinning plates with that one as well. It’s a slow market with keepers, though there has been a lot of movement in the last few years.

“[Former Rangers boss] Steven Gerrard started this mad thing of having two keepers on the bench, and it seems to be filtering through. We’ll get there in the end.”

Kilby’s squad has been boosted by the promotion of Ross Taylor, Aidan McDonald, Ross Smith, Reece McGuire and Aidan Fellowes from their under-21s, and Rutkiewicz says that provides competition for places.

“We’re nearly there, but we’ll always look at quality,” he said.

“Reece McGuire would come in as our second number 9, potentially as a third striker with Joao Victoria and Cami Elliott, and we could maybe be doing with one more up there, just for the numbers, depending on how we’re going to play.

“That back four, complemented with Ross Smith and Aidan McDonald, looks healthy and there is competition for places.

“BJ Coll was the only senior defender left, and we’ve added to that with Jonathan Page, Stephen Bronsky and Billy Mortimer, so it starts to look like a back four.

“But if one of the young lads comes in and has one of them sitting on the their backside I’d be delighted.”

Rutkiewicz