KELTY HEARTS have further strengthened their squad by completing a deal for a former Motherwell midfielder.

Liam Brown, who has been training with the club throughout pre-season, has signed a contract with Michael Tidser's side after leaving Lowland League champions East Kilbride.

The 25-year-old, who has featured as a trialist in friendly matches against Livingston, Hamilton Academical and Heart of Midlothian 'B', is the eighth permanent signing made by the New Central Park outfit.

Tidser had already snapped up goalkeeper Ryan Adamson, defender Callum Flatman, midfielders Luke McCarvel, Murray Millar, Robbie Cole and Scott Allan, as well as full-back Brody Paterson, who signed a one-year deal after leaving Hartlepool United, having spent the second half of last season on loan with the 'Maroon Machine'.

A graduate of the Motherwell youth system, Brown moved to Edinburgh City in 2019, and made 59 appearances, scoring five goals, in a two-year spell.

He then moved on to Queen's Park, playing 83 times, netting six goals, from whom he had a brief loan period with Stenhousemuir.

Last summer, he left the Spiders to join East Kilbride, helping them win the Lowland League and go on to play Stranraer in the SPFL League Two play-off final, playing both legs in his side's 5-3 aggregate defeat.

Brown has impressed sufficiently during Kelty's pre-season matches to be offered terms, joining his fellow new arrivals, as well as Tam O'Ware, Ross Cunningham and Billy Owens, who all signed contract extensions in the summer, as part of Tidser's squad for the new campaign.

"I think you need to keep a core of the squad as well because having a big turnover is difficult," he said.

"We've brought a few more younger lads in with energy because I knew we would need to strengthen, but we'll be fine.

"You've got your loan boys as well. The loan market's open until September I think it is, so there's a long time.

"We done well with the loans last year. It doesn't always work, but with Bavidge, O'Donnell, Reuben McAllister, they all came in and added quality, so it'll be no different this year.

"I'm looking forward to getting the squad settled and getting a real intensity in training, because it's hard just now with trialists and there's a lot of running. We'll be fine.

"I'm enjoying it. I love it here and I'm just looking forward to the season starting off."