KELTY HEARTS star Lewis Moore has described switching to part-time football as "the best decision" that he has made.

The 26-year-old also hailed the club for having belief in him, which he said is why he put pen to paper on a new contract to extend his stay at New Central Park.

Last summer, player / manager Michael Tidser brought Moore to the club after he left Championship outfit Queen's Park, and he made 30 appearances in all competitions last season, scoring six goals.

In January, he was rewarded with a new contract that ties him to Kelty until the end of the 2025/26 campaign, and has appeared in all of their competitive matches so far this season.

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A product of Heart of Midlothian's youth set-up, Moore had loan stints with Cowdenbeath, Forfar Athletic, Arbroath and Falkirk prior to joining the Spiders, but a series of injury problems left him considering his future in the game.

However, since joining Kelty, he said he has rediscovered his love for football, and credits going part-time - and working under Tidser - as significant reasons.

"It's honestly the best decision going part-time - well, for me it was," he told Press Sport during pre-season.

"I know people like the status of being a professional footballer full-time but, if you're not playing, it's no good for yourself or anyone.

Lewis Moore said he has rediscovered his love for the game with Kelty Hearts.Lewis Moore said he has rediscovered his love for the game with Kelty Hearts. (Image: David Wardle.)

"I can't stress how much more enjoyable it is waking up on a Saturday knowing that you're going to be involved. I'm enjoying it.

"I've said it to everyone - I've loved it since I've came in here.

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"They've looked after me and showed faith in me, so that's why I signed for two years. I'm here for this season and next.

"It's security and it's something that probably I've lacked when I was full-time. It's always in the back of your mind, what's happening next year if you don't perform. When they asked me to sign two years, it was a no-brainer.

"I'm playing every week. I'm enjoying coming to training and the boys are brilliant, honestly.

"Obviously, playing under the manager, he's been massive for me. He's got me back loving my football, so it's good.

"I'm a confidence player and he gives you that, so hopefully I can pay him back."

Kelty's squad from last season - when a defeat at home to Montrose, on the penultimate weekend, ended their hopes of a promotion play-off spot in League One - has undergone significant change over the summer.

Moore, though, is confident they can again push for the promotion play-offs, adding: "The gaffer did it last year.

"There was a huge transition and he put together a very good team, that probably just fell short in the end, and I've no doubt he'll do it again.

"There's no reason why we can't go one further. Last year, just after January, we probably hit a bad spell. I was injured, Tam (O'Ware) wasn't here and we lost other players. We were quite thin and football doesn't always go your way sometimes.

"We picked it up at the end but just fell short.

"There's no reason why we can't go one further this year."