One of two teenagers signed by manager Allan Johnston this afternoon, Kieran moves to Queens after spending all his football life at Rangers. The 19 year old joined the Ibrox club as an 8 year old but following his release is looking forward to a new challenge.
“Although I have been at Rangers for 11 years I’m not disappointed at leaving. I went to them when I was eight and feel that I proved myself there but I wasn’t getting anything in return so I think it was the right time for me to leave. I see this as a good opportunity for me and hopefully it will be the best thing that has ever happened for me. I want to play first team football and I see this as a chance to do that at a club who are at a good level in the Championship”.
The youngster admits he doesn’t know a lot about his new team “I only really know the level that they have played at and a bit from the games they played against Rangers; in the cup final and when Rangers were down the leagues. But I know a few people at the club and there are some top players like Stephen Dobbie. I see him as someone that I can learn a lot from. Just watching him in training everyday he is top class, even the way he conducts himself around the place as well it’s not just on the pitch. Yes it is a new environment for me but I’ve been on trial for a few weeks and yes it was tough at the start but I’ve found it exciting, I’ve enjoyed going somewhere new and being around different people”.
Kieran describes himself as a “tricky winger who likes to go forward” and he hopes supporters will find his style of play “exciting” and says he isn’t fazed that the manager has recruited a few midfielders already. “I want to stake a claim hopefully I will get my opportunity and when I do I hope I can take it, do well and stay there. Of course it is going to be tough but that is what football is all about, you look to move people out of the way and get a place if you’re not already there and to keep your place if you’ve got it. That doesn’t bother me I’m more excited about that than anything else”.
At 19 he feels he still has a big future ahead of him in the game and wants to help Queens be successful “It’s a new squad who haven’t played much together but we have a good group of boys and I have always grown up thinking that you want to win every game and as a team we will be aiming to do that”.