Elgin City make record signing deal by bringing goal machine Kane Hester back to Borough Briggs from Montrose as fans’ donations help seal the deal

Elgin City have made a statement signing in the January market by bringing fans favourite Kane Hester back to the club on a three-and-a-half year deal.

City have paid what is certain to be a record fee for the 29-year-old, who netted 87 goals in his last spell at the club before leaving to join Montrose.

Elgin manager Allan Hale thanked the club’s supporters for making the deal happen, after revealing that much of the financing came from the Allan’s Army fund set up from fan donations.

“It’s a big signing and one that highlights the ambition that the club has in being able to attract players like Kane back,” said Hale.

“The donations have been extremely generous and I think it shows the support that people have for Elgin City and the way the community comes together.

“The deal wouldn’t be possible had it not been for the donations that people put into the Allan’s Army fund.

“I’ve got to thank the board for the trust in me in terms of my judgement and giving me the ability to make it happen.

“It’s been a collective effort and a team effort and really shows and highlights that everyone in the club is pulling in the same direction.”

Hester signed for Elgin from Arbroath in 2019 and soon set about scoring goals for the club.

He scored 19, 19 and 17 in his first three full seasons then broke the 20-barrier in style with an SPFL club record 29 in all competitions in 2022-23, before departing on what is believed to be a record transfer fee to Montrose.

After a year-and-a-half at Montrose, he was lured by Elgin’s ambition to take him back on a lucrative deal.

“We got to a stage where we had an offer accepted, permission was granted to speak to Kane and the one thing that really shone through in speaking to him was his desire to come back here and how much he wanted to come and be a part of things.

“Once I as a manager get that feeling from a player that they really want to be part of what we are trying to build, then you try to make every effort to bring players like that into the club.

“The way that he plays the game is something I think we’ve missed this season at times, which is that penetration and ability to run in behind and really threaten the space in behind.

“He does that really well, he plays on the shoulder, his game is all about that and we’ve got players who can come to feet and link the play.

“It’s a brilliant signing and I’m really excited to be working with him.”

Hester comes straight into Elgin’s squad for tomorrow’s League 2 trip to Clyde.