Riordan makes substitute appearance for Alloa

DEREK Riordan last night expressed his delight at being back playing football after spending over a year searching for a new club, writes Craig Fowler.

Derek Riordan. Picture: SNS

The former Hibs striker was a second-half substitute in Alloa Atheltic’s 3-0 home defeat to Livingston. It was his first competitive appearance since featuring for Bristol Rovers way back in December 2012.

Riordan has expressed his frustration on numerous occasions at the failure to find a full-time employer and remains adamant that his abilities belong in the Scottish Premiership.

He has seen potential moves to Belgian side Royal Antwerp and English League One team Carlisle United break down recently.

“I’m delighted to be back playing. It certainly beats sitting around on a Saturday watching Gillette Soccer Saturday,” he said.

“When I was training here [at Alloa] before under former manager Paul Hartley I had no intention of signing. It was just about trying to keep fit. Then I was down at Carlisle and then the move to Belgium that I thought was going to happen but somehow didn’t.

“I don’t know what happened there. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink [Royal Antwerp’s manager] phones me up, tells me he needs a goalscorer, and then I read a week later that the deal is off and the chairman is slating me.

“Teams are obviously looking at me and put off by the fact that I haven’t played in a year. I just need to score goals and get back playing where I should be.”

n Stenhousemuir are expected to announce their new manager after a board meeting tomorrow night and a couple of unexpected names have emerged as candidates.

Former Scotland striker Scott Booth, who is presently working as an SFA youth coach, is believed to be in the running as is Bonnyrigg Rose manager Max Christie, son of former Stenhousemuir boss Terry.