Kerr McInroy has explained why he turned down the option to stay another season as a Celtic player to make a permanent move to Kilmarnock.
The midfielder came through the Academy alongside Jack Aitchison, Stephen Welsh and Ewan Henderson but never got closer to first team action than a place on the substitute bench.
McInroy made a favourable impression last season on loan at Airdrie and Ayr United and is now ready for his Premiership debut next month with Celtic making an early visit to Rugby Park.
Speaking to The Sun McInroy said:
I wanted to get away and build my own reputation. Rather than, ‘Oh, he’s a loan player from Celtic’, I wanted to be a Killie player. My view was I had enough of the loans.
I wanted to get settled and play football, and Celtic helped me with that by letting me go. It’s good to get settled and it’s somewhere I’ll be for at least a couple of years.
It felt good knowing the Kilmarnock manager wanted to sign me. I met him for a coffee. I had a good feeling, and I think he was the same with me. I was keen to come and get it signed, I want to work with him.
It was a big draw looking at the players he’s worked with and what level he got them to. It gave me a good feeling, you look at the ones at Aberdeen, it was good
With Scott Brown and Callum McGregor fixtures in the Celtic midfield opportunities were limited to McInroy, virtually non-existent.
Ryan Christie and Olivier Ntcham found some game time with Tom Rogic and Nir Bitton also options for midfield places.
Henderson managed a few fleeting appearances under three different managers but like McInroy has now left the club for Hibs with both players having the opportunity to kick-off their careers in the Premiership.
