Hibs defender Kyle McClelland has joined Coleraine FC on loan.
The 22-year-old will join the NIFL (Northern Ireland Football League) Premiership side for the 2024/25 campaign.
Coleraine are managed by former Hibs midfielder Dean Shiels, and finished sixth in the Northern Irish top-flight last season.
The loan provides McClelland with further senior experience having spent last season with Queen of the South in the Scottish League 1, where he made 37 appearances in all competitions.
The young centre-half has also had a loan spell at Cove Rangers in the second-tier of Scottish football.
On the loan move, Hibs Sporting Director Malky Mackay commented: “This is a further opportunity for Kyle to gain regular experience of senior football.
“Moving to Northern Ireland and competing in a new league will give Kyle different tests and will provide him with a good platform to work on his game. We look forward to seeing how he progresses.”
Shiels, who played for both Rangers and Hibs, feels McClelland’s quality will shine through.
He said: “We are very pleased to welcome Kyle to the club,” said Shiels. “For his age, he seems to be well above his years. In and out of possession he’s very comfortable.
“He came through the academy system at Rangers, his coaches speak really highly of him. Hibernian were delighted to get him and signed him on a long term deal.
“I want to thank David Gray, the head coach at Hibs for being so accommodating with this loan of Kyle. I think he’s going to thrive with his quality”
Expressing his enthusiasm for the move, McClelland stated, “This is a big step in my career, I think this move is going to make me a better man overall and give me as much experience as I can get.
“I had a good phone call with the gaffer, everything he told me about the club and their expectations and where he wanted the club to go. Everything he said was a big part of why I wanted to come here. Just buzzing to get started to be honest with you.”
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
