East Fife were last night close to completing a deal to sign former Scotland striker Derek Riordan until the end of the season.
The 32-year-old was offered a deal by the Fife club after featuring as a trialist for them and the club confirmed yesterday that the ex-Celtic and Hibs forward has agreed terms with a view to a move.
Riordan, who has been training with Livingston of late, has made three appearances as a trialist, scoring a dramatic winner as the Fifers beat Annan at the weekend before scoring one and setting up two in the 5-3 win up at Elgin on Tuesday evening.
However, as league rules dictate that a player can only play three games as a trialist, the Methil club had to get some kind of deal thrashed out to allow him to play against Queen’s Park this weekend.
The deal will not be completely confirmed until SFA approval is granted, but that should be a formality over the next 24 hours or so.
If it goes through, it will be something of a coup for the Fifers after Riordan turned down a contract offer at Brechin following a spell as a trialist there earlier this season.
Meanwhile, the Fifers’ Kevin Smith and Caolan McAleer should both be cleared for a return to competitive action within a matter of weeks after scans on their respective knee injuries suggested surgery is not required.
Smith, who counts Dundee, Dundee United and Raith among his former clubs, has netted eight times for the Fifers this season but has been missing since Valentine’s Day, while fellow attack-minded team-mate McAleer has also been sidelined for several weeks with a similar ailment.
However, both players have been given the all-clear by medics and are expected to return to full training soon.
Boss Gary Naysmith has earmarked the Arbroath league game on March 21 as a potential return date for both players.