Kenny Shiels rules out signing free agent Derek Riordan

By GAVIN MCCAFFERTY
Published on 14/09/2012 03:10

Kilmarnock manager Kenny Shiels has ruled out signing Derek Riordan, despite the former Hibernian striker training with the club.

Riordan, who left St Johnstone in May, ended a training stint with Ross County this week without negotiating a deal and has joined up with the Ayrshire side.

Riordan trained with Killie in January before ending up at McDiarmid Park and Shiels does not believe there is any chance of a deal.

“He’s an out-of-contract player who we are facilitating, that’s all,” the Killie boss said.

“We have done it with Mark Kerr and loads of players who wanted to keep their fitness up until they got fixed up.”

Despite his status as the SPL’s third highest goalscorer of all time – behind Henrik Larsson and Kris Boyd – Riordan’s ­career has hit the buffers in recent 
seasons. In July he trained with Football League One club Milton Keynes Dons before Ross County made contact.

Shiels could have one new player in his squad for Saturday’s Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash with Hibernian as striker Cillian Sheridan prepares for his debut.

“I have to have a chat with him about that,” Shiels said. 
“He has done a pre-season with Sofia and I need to work out if 
he has enough game time to come in.”

Shiels was delighted to beat several SPL rivals to sign the 23-year-old Irishman, who has previously represented Celtic, Motherwell, Hibs and St 
Johnstone.

“There were other more lucrative offers for him, I want to stress that,” Shiels said.

“His agent worked in close contact with myself and he felt it was a good move for him to come here at this time of his 
career.

“I concur with that, I really think we’ve a chance to develop the player.

“That’s our priority, to improve players. If we have enough intelligence about us the team will become better.”