SFL transfer round-up: Rangers wait for Stella clearance as Broadfoot and Edu join Stoke

DAVID Templeton’s last-gasp move to Rangers from Hearts will steal the headlines, but the SFL offices were also busy with securing clearance from Italy for striker Francesco Stella as Rangers sought to tie the trialist up on a permanent deal.

The 21-year-old Australian-born forward holds an Italian passport and was last registered with AC Siena, who had sent him on loan to Borgo A Buggiano, in Tuscany. The only other moves involving the Ibrox club saw the cancellation of the registrations for Stoke-bound Maurice Edu and Kirk Broadfoot.

In the First Division, Falkirk reached an agreement to bring Sean Higgins to the club until the end of the season following his release from St Johnstone. The 27-year-old played for seven years at Ross County before joining Dundee in 2009 for a two-year spell that was followed by his stint at the Perth club and his move has been completed subject to a medical today.

Provided there are no problems, Higgins will join his new side for their game against Livingston tomorrow.

“He’s a player I’ve always admired,” said Falkirk manager Steven Pressley last night. “He can play in that ‘number 10’ role and I’m really excited about him coming to us.”

Front man David Smith has travelled a well-trod route from Tynecastle to Stark’s Park to join Raith Rovers on loan, with youngster Liam Gordon going in the opposite direction on a permanent switch.

Callum Booth is also leaving the capital with the left-sided Hibs youngster agreeing to don the colours of Livingston on a loan deal until the end of the season.

Hamilton completed the signing of former Stirling Albion goalkeeper Scott Christie from Junior side Bo’ness. However, one player not leaving New Douglas Park is striker Darrian MacKinnon. The front man recently joined the club from Clydebank Juniors and has turned down the chance of a loan deal at Second Division Albion Rovers.

Plans for Dumbarton’s new signing, midfielder Chris Turner, to make his debut against Morton today will need to wait, as a suspension carried over from his time in Ireland with Shamrock Rovers has been enforced by the SFA.

East Fife were the biggest recruiters in the SFL as they brought in three loan signings with defensive pair Scott Smith and Jordan Forster coming in from Hibs and winger Paul Willis joining from Dunfermline.

The SFL assured that the Gordon Ramsay who has moved from Forfar to Arbroath is not the one-time Rangers player who went on to become a well-known TV chef.