Weir recommended Westlake signing

Kilmarnock manager Allan Johnston signed right-back Darryl Westlake after a glowing reference from former Hearts and Scotland team-mate Davie Weir.

Westlake played under Weir at Sheffield United, who released him at the end of last season.

The 23-year-old, who played for Killie in a pre-season friendly against Morecambe, has signed a two-year deal and could make his Scottish Premiership debut against St Mirren at Rugby Park on Saturday.

Johnston said: He's a quality player. We have been chasing him for a wee while. Obviously we know Davie Weir who had him at Sheffield United and rates him really highly.

We have done other homework on him as well.

He has been really impressive in training and in the game he played in as well. So we are expecting big things from him.

He gives us cover on both sides of the pitch so hopefully that pushes everyone on. He can play up one as well but he's a full-back.

He played his first reserve game for us the other night and scored a goal, so it's good to have a full-back that can do that.

He has not played many games so he might need a couple of games to get up to match-speed, but he got through the 90 minutes no bother so he can't be far away.''

Westlake's signing comes amid a bonus row between the players and chairman Michael Johnston, with both parties some distance apart in negotiations for an end-of-season performance-related payments.

But Johnston is confident his men will continue to put the situation to one side as they build on a decent start to the season.

The directors are dealing with it but the players are fully focused on the football,'' he said.

It's been like that since the start of the season, so nothing has changed.

They have just got to concentrate on the football and make sure we get the results on the park. We can't afford any distractions.''

St Mirren visit Rugby Park seven points adrift of the Ayrshire side after losing their opening four league games of the season, and Johnston aims to pile on the pressure.

You know what' it's like when you are down there, you get punished for every mistake,'' he said.

We have to make sure we do the same to them, keep them under pressure and make them defend.''