FORMER Athletic defender Lewis Martin has secured a new club for next season after leaving Kelty Hearts.

The 27-year-old, who moved to New Central Park last summer, has joined Highland League champions, Brechin City, on a two-year deal.

He will team-up at Glebe Park with former Dunfermline strike star, Andy Kirk, who is assisted by another former Pars player, Stephen Simmons.

Martin played 36 times for Kelty in the season just finished, helping them to finish eighth, and to consolidate their place in League One following promotion the season prior.

However, with captain, Michael Tidser, taking over as player / manager following John Potter's departure, he was one of several players to depart the club as it embarks on a new era on and off the field.

In April, they announced that general manager and managing director, Dean McKenzie, and sporting director, Andrew Barrowman, would be leaving the club, as would Potter.

McKenzie and Barrowman subsequently moved to Raith Rovers, as part of a consortium that has bought a controlling stake in the club, with Potter following them to Stark's Park to take up the role of technical director.

Tidser was named as Kelty's new manager, with Stefan Winiarski and Craig Reynolds, who had previously been involved with Kelty Hearts Community Club, stepping into the roles vacated.

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Forward, Alfredo Agyeman, agreed a deal to join to Falkirk upon the expiry of his Kelty contract, whilst club stalwart, Ross Philp, Kallum Higginbotham, Joe Cardle, Jamie Barjonas, Darren Jamieson, Reis Peggie, and Dougie Hill all joined Martin in departing with their contracts at an end.

Forward, Nathan Austin, has also left the club, signing for East Fife, where he began his senior career, after the clubs agreed a fee for his services, whilst midfielder, Robbie McNab, moved to Cowdenbeath.

Martin, a former Scotland under-19 cap, was the first signing made by Potter at Kelty after he took over from Kevin Thomson, who resigned following their League Two title success.

The versatile defender came through as a youth at KDM Group East End Park, making his debut in a 1-0 win at Greenock Morton in April 2013 - a match in which Potter started for the Pars.

Although his time with Dunfermline saw him hit by injury and health issues latterly, which saw him miss all but the final games of the 2018/19 season, the whole of the 2020/21 campaign, and play just seven times in 2021/22, Martin made 171 appearances for the Pars.

Following their defeat to Queen's Park in the Championship play-off semi-final, he was not offered a new deal, and joined Potter at Kelty after impressing on trial.

Kirk, who scored 71 goals in 178 Pars appearances in a spell of more than four years, which included a First Division title win in 2011, said: "We are delighted to bring a player of Lewis’s quality and experience to the football club.

"Lewis is very comfortable with the ball and has the flexibility to play anywhere across the back line. He will also add more height and strength.

"He is an ambitious individual and someone we feel will improve our team."

Since taking over as boss, Tidser has made four signings, bringing in Cove Rangers goalkeeper, Kyle Gourlay; Stenhousemuir defender, Adam Corbett; experienced Forfar Athletic wide man, Stefan McCluskey; and Clyde forward, Ross Cunningham.

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