ON LOAN Kelty Hearts midfielder Nicky Low has departed the club to join West of Scotland Football League, Premier Division, Clydebank.

The 31-year-old, who had been with the New Central Park club from Arbroath, has joined the Bankies on a contract until the end of the season.

Low had his loan arrangement with Kelty cancelled, as well as his contact with the Lichties, to allow him to make the move for personal reasons.

In September, the experienced former Aberdeen and Dundee midfielder joined John Potter's side until January, and made 13 appearances in total for the club, scoring twice.

Before the closure of the January transfer window, an agreement was reached between the player, his parent club and Kelty to extend the arrangement to the end of the season.

Having been absent through injury since a win over this afternoon's opponents, Queen of the South, at Palmerston on December 17, he made his comeback, from the bench, in the defeat to Falkirk on February 4.

That proved to be Low's final appearance for Kelty and, speaking to Clydebank's website, he said: "I was obviously at Kelty Hearts and had just extended my loan there but I’ve got a bit of a family issue that needs me being closer to home.

"I know a good few of the boys here, and I heard there was a chance to come here which is a club with a lot of history. I wanted to come somewhere where it felt right, where the facilities are good and from speaking to Moff (Gordon Moffat, manager), I think here will be good for me."

Kelty said: "Midfielder, Nicky Low intimated to the club that for family reasons and travelling he would like to cancel his loan agreement at Kelty Hearts.

"Although disappointed, the club agreed to Nicky’s wish. We wish Nicky all the best in the future!"

Arbroath stated: "Arbroath FC can today confirm that Nicky Low has been released from his contract with Arbroath FC.

"His loan deal with Kelty Hearts has also been cancelled and Nicky has signed for West of Scotland Football League side Clydebank.

"Arbroath signed Nicky from Lowland League side East Stirlingshire in March 2021, and made his debut as a substitute away to Inverness Caledonian Thistle before starting the final 5 games of the season scoring his first goal against Dunfermline Athletic from the spot.

"Last season Nicky started 25 games for Arbroath with another 4 from the bench and scored 5 goals as an injury sustained against Kilmarnock interrupted his season, but still helped the club reach 2nd in the Championship.

"This season Nicky made 8 appearances for Arbroath (6 starts and 2 from the bench.) before joining Kelty Hearts on loan.

"We would like to thank Nicky for his time at the club."

Meanwhile, prior to news of Low's departure, and ahead of today's game with the Doonhamers, Potter said Kelty have “still got irons in the fire” as they look to further bolster their squad.

The New Central Park outfit recruited Jack Milne, from Aberdeen, and Robbie Leitch, from Cove Rangers, on loan last month, as well as the permanent signing of Bo’ness Athletic striker, Tiwi Daramola, who returned to his former club on a temporary deal until the end of the season.

Clubs in the SPFL, outwith the top division, are, however, able to make domestic loan signings despite the transfer window being closed, and Potter said after his team’s last match, against Falkirk, that he would “still like to bring another one or two in”.

Potter has targeted strengthening in the forward and defensive areas and, speaking to Press Sport ahead of this Saturday’s home match with Queen of the South, he commented: “We were close with one, but it didn’t happen, for one reason or another.

“We’re not there with anything at the moment, but we are continuing to try. A lot of clubs we’ve asked players for don’t want to go part time.

“We’ve still got some irons in the fire and, hopefully, we can get one or two bits of business done. We want to keep trying to improve and catch the teams above us. I still believe that the squad is good enough to do that when fully fit.”

Potter is set to welcome the Doonhamers with a full compliment aside from Jason Thomson, who it is hoped will soon begin running, and return to training within the next week or two.

The experienced full back missed five games in all competitions after picking up concussion during a loss to Airdrieonians in November, returning for the Hogmanay stalemate at Alloa Athletic, but hasn’t featured since due to a knee problem picked up after an innocuous tackle in training.

That will be a boost for Kelty, who utilised their free weekend due to Scottish Cup action by organising a bounce game on Saturday between their first team and their under-20s, as they bid to try and climb up the League One table.

They can move level on points with seventh-placed Queens, who they have beaten in their previous two league meetings this season, with victory, and Potter noted: “They’ve got a new manager in (Marvin Bartley) and have signed a few players.

“They’re a full time team, and would expect to be challenging at the top end of the league, and will be disappointed about where they are.

“Our aim is to try and catch the teams above us. We’ve got 12 games left, so we have to try and win a lot, but what better way to do that than by winning against the team immediately above us on Saturday.”