SFL transfers: Currie joins Hamilton as East Fife sign up McQuade

Hamilton Accies showed that being persistent paid off as they agreed a transfer deadline day deal with Berwick Rangers for their goal-grabbing midfielder Paul Currie after having an initial offer rebuffed by the Borderers. The Accies finally came up with an acceptable four-figure fee for the 26-year-old who has been at Shielfield for two years following his step up from Musselburgh Athletic.

Currie, who has scored 21 goals in his time with the Third Division side, has signed on until the end of the season and he looks like the ideal replacement for Kyle Wilkie, who sustained a ruptured Achilles tendon injury at training on Wednesday. The 20-year-old will have an operation today and he has been ruled out for six months.

Manager Billy Reid said: “I thought the deal was off in the morning, however we have managed to push it through. Unfortunately he is ineligible for the Ramsdens Cup tie against Morton on Sunday as he is cup-tied.”

Striker Paul McQuade has followed in his father’s footsteps after signing for Second Division side East Fife following his release from St Mirren by mutual consent. McQuade, whose dad Peter was a popular full-back for the Fifers in the 1970s, moved to the Paisley side from Cowdenbeath when Danny Lennon took over at St Mirren Park last summer.

McQuade, who also had a spell at Raith Rovers and Junior side Dundonald Bluebell, scored twice last season for St Mirren in a Scottish Cup replay at Peterhead, and he also found the net once for Forfar Athletic during a loan spell.

Ayr United pulled off a surprise by bringing in Derby County’s 19-year-old Irish youth international midfielder Ryan Connolly on loan until the end of December.

Peterhead beat off competition from Third Division rivals Montrose to land Ross County front man Garry Wood on loan until the end of the year.

Moves completed yesterday: Pedram Ardalany (unattached to Arbroath), Kevin Brown (BI/Bolungarvik to Arbroath), Ryan Connolly (Derby County to Ayr United), Paul Currie (Berwick Rangers to Hamilton), Stewart Devine (Stranraer to Bo’ness), Steven Howarth (Motherwell to Alloa on loan), Dominic Kennedy (St Mirren to Dumbarton on loan), Nicky Low (Aberdeen to Forfar Athletic on loan), Jamie McKernon (St Mirren to Ayr United on loan), Ross McKinnon (Motherwell to Dumbarton on loan), Paul McQuade (St Mirren to East Fife), Kal Naismith (Rangers to Cowdenbeath on loan), Joe Shaunessey (Aberdeen to Forfar Athletic on loan), Garry Wood (Ross County to Peterhead on loan).