Two Hibs youngsters join East Kilbride on cooperation loans
19-year-old keeper Owens joins up with the newly-promoted William Hill League Two side after impressing at Civil Service Strollers in the Lowland League last season.
Cleland, aged 17, also joins the K-Park club on loan after scoring 38 times for Hibs Under-18s last season in competitive matches as Darren McGregor's side secured the CAS Elite Youth League title.
Owens and Cleland will be able to continue playing for Hibs while performing for East Kilbride due to the new Cooperation System.
This new Cooperation System allows eligible players to continue playing for their parent club at first team and youth level while gaining invaluable senior football experience with their partner club, therefore increasing their playing time.
On the loan moves of Owens and Cleland, Hibs Academy Director Gareth Evans commented: 'Freddie did very well at Civil Service Strollers last season in what was a good campaign for them, and Dean really impressed in our Under-18s team.
'Challenging themselves in League Two, and playing for a good club like East Kilbride, is great for Freddie and Dean in terms of their development and hopefully both will now get minutes at a higher level.'
Like this:
Like
Related
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Daily Record
East Kilbride v Queen of the South: Kilby boss welcomes back 'massive' players ahead of cup clash
Kilby are set to get stronger as they prepare to face the Doonhamers tonight East Kilbride boss Mick Kennedy expects to welcome back some 'massive' players from injury over the coming weeks. While Kennedy takes the KDM Evolution Trophy seriously, and wants to progress, he will use midweek clashes to reintegrate some big hitters to his squad. Striker Cami Elliott and midfielder Joao Balde made their comeback in Saturday's 1-0 win at Elgin City, while defenders Jamie Hamilton and Jordan McGregor, and long-term injured Ouzy See are on their road back, and could be utilised in the Challenge Cup competition. Kilby host League One side Queen of the South in the competition tonight and follow that up with Motherwell 'B' (August 26), Hamilton (September 6), Stenhousemuir (September 23), Hearts 'B' on October 11 and Celtic 'B' on November 11. 'The injuries are clearing up a wee bit,' said Kennedy. 'Cami came back in [against Elgin City], Joao Balde came back in, so we're getting there. 'Jamie Hamilton is maybe another week away, Jordan McGregor is maybe two weeks away, Ouzy is out for a couple of months. 'We're getting there slowly but surely, but Cami, Jordan, Joao and Jamie were a huge part of the group last year, so we've missed them massively, just in terms of their quality and experience. 'Once we start getting them back they'll make a big difference, when the squad is fully settled.' He added: 'If you look at the competition last year we were an inch of a post away from going to the final, so we want to go and do well, and make a good impression. 'With it being so early in the season, with games Saturday-Tuesday, we'll try to utilise the squad a bit and give boys some game-time. 'We need to rotate the squad a bit.'
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Daily Record
Elgin City 0 East Kilbride 1: Kennedy not sentimental as Kilby claim first SPFL win
The League Two are up and running after a narrow success at Borough Briggs East Kilbride boss Mick Kennedy insists he's not sentimental about his side's first ever League Two win on Saturday, and is just happy to get three points at Elgin City. Nathan Flanagan scored directly from a corner 70 minutes into the clash at Borough Briggs to grab the only goal of the game, although Jack Leitch did have a fifth minute strike ruled out for a foul in the build-up. The win moves Kilby up to fifth in the table after a 3-1 defeat at home to 10-man Spartans in last week's opener. It's the first time that Kilby have registered a win in SPFL football, but Kennedy said: 'I don't really get caught up in nostalgic stuff like that, but I'm just delighted to get three points. 'After the result last week it was just good to get some points on the board, so we're delighted with that. 'It was a bit fortuitous, in that it's a great delivery, but the goalie maybe makes a bit of a bad judgement. 'But it was good for Nathan to get a goal and get his account up and running in the league as well. 'Elgin is a notoriously difficult place to go, with the travel and stuff, so I'm just delighted to leave with the three points.' He added: 'I thought we were really good in the first half and totally dominated the game. We should have created more. It was more scrappy in the second half and more competitive, we didn't have as much control. 'Elgin were very direct after the break but we defended our box very well. 'It was always going to be difficult after winning so comfortably here in the cup [a 4-1 win] last month.' Kennedy feels that East Kilbride haven't needed to make much of a step-up from the Lowland League to League Two, and reckons a few teams at that level could do well. He said: 'I don't think there's a significant difference between a lot of League Two and certain teams in the Lowland League. 'Maybe there's more quality across the whole board in League Two, but I wouldn't say it's significant. 'Maybe in League Two there's a wee bit more physicality and experience, because a lot of boys in the Lowland League are maybe dropping out of academies and trying to rebuild their careers and stuff like that, so there's quite a difference in that sense. 'But I'm just delighted to get three points.'
Daily Record
6 days ago
- Daily Record
Spartans defeat good for East Kilbride, says boss as 'reality check' dished out
Mick Kennedy is taking the positives after his side lost at home on their SPFL debut, and now head to Elgin today looking for a win East Kilbride boss Mick Kennedy says their opening day humbling by Spartans could be a good thing as it serves as a reality check for his players. Tipped as title favourites, Kilby went down 3-1 in front of a sold-out home support, which also included special guests and Old Firm legends Ally McCoist and Paul McStay. It wasn't the start the Lowland League champions were looking for in League Two, but Kennedy feels it may serve them well in the long run. He said: 'With all the build-up, people saying we are favourites and then when we lose, everybody is having mass panic. 'But I don't think Saturday will be a bad thing because it should be a reality check for everyone. There is nothing wrong with being favourites, but if anyone thinks it is going to be easy, that's a different thing. 'It is probably not a bad thing for the players to lose that game because they have been so good in pre-season, they've had some good results in the cup campaign and, with the exception of the Inverness game, there's been a lot of positives. 'So this reminds them that they need to stand up and manage the expectations. There was a general flatness about us on Saturday, we weren't at it in terms of intensity, but that is all stuff we can fix. 'I know we've got a very strong group of players when everyone is back fit, so there are no issues there.' Kilby now make the long journey north today to face Elgin City, a side they have already beaten this season with a 4-1 win in the Premier Sports Cup last month, but Kennedy insists it will be a different game. He added: 'The challenge will be slightly different because when we played Elgin up there, they went after us for spells and we hurt them for that, so I would assume they'll set up differently. 'But the pressure is on. You don't want to be losing too many games early on, you want to build some momentum so we need to go and get a good result.'
