One new face added to the squad for next season is 24-year-old Paul McKay. Paul joined Doncaster Rovers as a 10-year-old in 2006 and had spells at Leeds United, Cardiff City and Morecombe before making the move to Scotland, joining Airdrie in 2019.

Speaking to the website Paul said “I’m delighted to have joined the club. I spoke to the Manager a few weeks ago and really liked what he had to say. It’s a good club and I think it’s a good next step for me, I feel that it is the right fit for both parties”.

“You saw last year and in previous seasons, players come to Queen of the South and have been given the chance to do well. As I say they are a good club, finishing 6th in a difficult league last season. It will be the same again this year but it is a good platform to come and play and having spoken to the Manager it was the place I wanted to come to”.

Paul was part of the Airdrie team who missed out on promotion to the Championship last year losing the play-off final to Morton but he is now looking forward to testing himself in the division with Queens but is grateful to his former club “When I first came up to Scotland I probably hadn’t played as many first team games as I would’ve liked at my age but at Airdrie I’ve had two good full seasons where I was given the chance to play week in, week out and its really bought me on. That’s another reason I wanted to come to Queens because I feel I can have another good season with them”.

Having been given the opportunity to make the step up, he is looking forward to playing in what he sees as a very competitive league “yes it will be more challenging but that is what drew me to Queens as well its going to be a good league, a tough league as there are some big names coming down and with Partick coming up, they’re another big club and added to the teams already in the league it is going to be hard. But it will be an exciting league to play in and a challenge that I am ready for”.

The Club’s aim is always promotion and Paul shares the same goals but on a personal level he says “it has to be playing as many games as I can and showcasing my ability I want to put make a stamp on the team and the league, by doing that it will help the team and there is no reason why we can’t push on”.

So just what kind of player can we expect?

I came through the youth academies in England I did play mostly as a centre back but when I came up here, I played a wee bit at right back ad a lot in midfield. Most of my games at Airdrie were in midfield until the run-in last season when I got a good run of games at centre half. I think that is when the manager and Sandy were impressed the most. And having spoken to the manager I think that is probably where he wants me to be playing. But I’m comfortable on the ball so I’m happy to play anywhere. I like to say I’m a good defender and at the end of the day playing centre half you defend first and if you get the chance to play then you go and play. That’s what you will see from me”.

“For me it’s about playing where the manager wants you to play and what suits the team, that is my attitude towards it, if he wants me to play anywhere on the park, I will play for him. If he needs me to play anywhere, I will be happy to do that”.

Having spent his early career down south before moving to Airdrie, Paul believes he made the right move “Youth academy football is totally different from playing week in, week out and that is probably something I needed to do. Being able to do that has given me good experience so I’m at the stage now where I want to be going challenging and playing in good leagues and obviously the Championship is going to be a good platform to play”.

With his Dad, Willie and older Brother Mark both football agents and twin Jack a striker, Paul certainly has the game in his blood “It has been football all my life. It was my decision to come up to Airdrie as I wanted to go and test myself and try to make a name for myself and I think I have done that. During my conversation with the Gaffer, he told me I’ve had two good seasons and have impressed and that’s why he has brought me in, so if I can repay the Manager’s faith in me, that is what I will be trying to do. Everyone has been really welcoming and from what I have seen so far I have definitely made the right decision to join Queen of the South”.