By Graeme Dey

DUNFERMLINE will this morning complete the signing of former Northern Ireland international striker Andy Kirk from Yeovil Town on a three- year deal.

And last night player-boss Jim McIntyre revealed the capture of the eight-times capped former Hearts hit-man represents the successful conclusion to a lengthy pursuit.

“Andy has been on my radar for a wee while now and I’m so pleased to get him,’’ said McIntyre.

“Andy is strong, quick and someone who has scored goals wherever he has been.

“He’ll be a great foil for Graham Bayne and I see him providing us with our biggest goal threat.

“The board here deserve a lot of credit for backing me in this signing.’’

The arrival of the 29-year-old at East End Park could not be better timed as the Pars, owing to McIntyre being sidelined by a calf muscle tear, were faced with going into tomorrow’s opening league fixture against Partick Thistle with Bayne as their only recognised striker.

Subject to international clearance coming through in time Kirk, McIntyre’s sixth summer signing, will make his debut against the Jags.

Kirk began his career at Glentoran from where Jim Jefferies snapped him up in a £50,000 deal. He went on to make 134 appearances for the Jam Tarts, netting 32 goals along the way before moving to Boston United in 2004.

After scoring 20 times in just 31 games for Boston he was snapped up by Northampton Town for £125,000 and helped them win promotion to League One.

Kirk joined Yeovil in January for an undisclosed fee and netted twice in his first three games for the club.

He was the subject of a failed bid from Morecambe earlier this summer. But more recently Yeovil determined that, as part of a cost-cutting exercise, they would be prepared to release Kirk from his contract—which had two years left to run—for no fee and the Pars stepped in.

Meanwhile, Pars chairman John Yorkston last night called on SFA president George Peat to resign in light of comments made in relation to the exclusion of the Fife club, Dundee and Ross County from the SFA elite youth level.