KELTY HEARTS have further boosted their squad by completing a deal for experienced former Pars star Steven Bell.

The 37-year-old, who was last with Partick Thistle, joined the New Central Park club last night (Tuesday), and could make his debut in Saturday's League One match at Clyde.

Bell, who played for Dunfermline between 2008 and 2012, joined the Jags during the second half of the 2020/21 season, helping them to the League One title, before signing a one-year deal last summer.

After making 12 appearances last term, he left Firhill in the summer, and has teamed-up with Kelty boss, John Potter, whom he knew from his time at the Pars.

He told Kelty Hearts' website: "I’ve always kept in touch with him; I’ve always had a good relationship with the gaffer. It’ll be strange him being my manager.

"I’m looking forward to joining up with the boys and learning from the manager as he’s had a good coaching career so far.

"I got a phone call from the manager last week. As time progressed, and as I was told about the club, it just fitted.

"I can bring experience, a level-head when things might not be going well...I know this league inside-out, I’ve played in it for many years.

"I’m going to try and push Tam (O'Ware) and β€œFozzy” (Jordon Forster, for a place in the team), they’ve done brilliantly for the club so far and my aim is to push them as well as getting used to the club."

After beginning his senior career with Dundee United, a brief spell with Queen of the South was followed by a move to Stirling Albion, who helped to promotion to the First Division in 2007, and where he attracted Dunfermline's interest.

He duly signed for the Pars in the summer of 2008, but in a match at Greenock Morton in November 2010 - the season Jim McIntyre's side were crowned First Division champions, and were last promoted to the top flight - Bell suffered a serious Achilles injury.

He missed the remainder of that campaign, and would not feature for Athletic again, before joining Stranraer in 2013, whom he would go on to captain.

A move to Ayr United in 2018 saw him win League One with the Honest Men during a near three-year spell at Somerset Park, after which he joined East Kilbride, of the Lowland League, before moving to Thistle.

Bell is also reunited with former Dunfermline team-mates Joe Cardle and Andrew Barrowman, who is the club's sporting director, at Kelty, who are still seeking their first point since winning League Two last term.