Fifers’ joy at Hutton loan and signing of McMillan

RANGERS midfielder Kyle Hutton has joined Dunfermline on loan until the end of the season after signing a one-year contract extension with the Scottish champions.

The 20-year-old was contracted to the Ibrox side until the summer of 2013 but has now committed himself for a further 12 months.

However, Hutton will spend the remainder of the campaign at East End Park with a Pars side who sit bottom of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League table and who are battling to retain their top-flight status.

The youngster also spent three months on loan at Partick Thistle earlier in the season.

He will be joined at Dunfermline by Jordan McMillan, who has quit Rangers to sign for the Fife club.

Dunfermline manager Jim McIntyre reckons the Pars can give McMillan a platform to fulfil his potential after signing the defender on an 18-month deal.

McIntyre snapped up the 23-year-old yesterday evening and allowed out of favour defender John Potter to head out of East End Park on loan to first division Queen of the South.

SPL basement side Dunfermline secured McMillan, whose contract was due to expire in the summer, on a free transfer although the Scottish champions negotiated a sell-on clause as part of the deal.

McIntyre said: “I’m delighted to have signed Jordan, he’s a player we’ve tried to get on numerous occasions and I have to thank Rangers, Ally [McCoist] and Kenny [McDowall], for letting this happen.

“He is a player that is hungry to play and do well. He’s coming as a defender but he can play in the middle of the park as well so he gives us that extra competition.

“It’s really difficult to make the breakthrough at the Old Firm but hopefully we can give him a platform to go and do well.

“He was always in and around the first team at Rangers and he’s champing at the bit to get going.”

Glasgow-born McMillan came through the Rangers through system but has only made five first team appearances for the Ibrox club, his last coming as a substitute in January’s Scottish Cup win at Arbroath.

The right-back also came on in last season’s Champions League for the 1-1 draw in Turkey with Bursaspor, before going on loan to Welsh side Wrexham.

McMillan has also previously been farmed out to Hamilton and Queen of the South.

Centre-half Potter’s future remains uncertain, however, after being reacquainted with former St Mirren manager Gus MacPherson at Palmerston. Potter left the Buddies at the end of last season and signed a one-year contract with hometown club Dunfermline but has not featured in their last three games.