Boyack bids to resurrect his career by turning to Junior game

IT'S JUST two and a half years since Steven Boyack played a key role for Hearts in a 1-0 victory over Rangers in front of almost 50,000 supporters, yet on Saturday he'll find himself turning out for Junior side Bathgate Thistle.

The 30-year-old midfielder was released by Stirling Albion earlier this week to allow him to sign for ambitious Bathgate who finished as runners-up in the east region Super League and Scottish Junior Cup last season.

He will go straight into the Thistle squad for their trip to Carnoustie Panmure's Westfield Park this weekend which will be a million miles away from the glitz and glamour of that night in Govan when the Jambos recorded their first win away to Rangers in almost eight years - a victory that remains their last at Ibrox.

That clash proved to be Boyack's penultimate game for the club, his last outing in a maroon shirt coming just a few days later in a win on the final day over Motherwell at Tynecastle. At the end of that season Boyack, Scott Severin and Andy Kirk were all released as boss Craig Levein was forced to cut his wage bill despite the manager's insistence that he would have preferred to have retained all three players.

Since then Boyack has had spells with a variety of clubs including Livingston, Boston United and Blackpool although injuries prevented him for realising his potential.

Boyack, who offered to play for Striling Albion for just £1 a week while he proved his fitness, was told by boss Allan Moore this week that his first team opportunities at Forthbank were likely to be limited.

But, with the transfer window closed until January, his only option if he didn't want to sit on the sidelines for months was to turn to the Junior ranks.

And another former Hearts player, Alan Lawrence, now a coach with Thistle, is tipping him to be a huge success.

"He's a big name so he is definitely a real coup for us," said Lawrence.

"Willie Hill (the Bathgate manager) found out that he's going to be available and has managed to get in there first. Steven is a decent player so he wouldn't have been short of offers - that's for sure. We are hoping that he'll really enhance our squad.

"He certainly has the ability to be a big success for us and it's up to him to show what he can do."

Over the years a number of former professionals have turned to the Junior game but failed to make the impact that has been expected. And having only recently turned 30 and with a wealth of experience under his belt there is no getting away from the fact that big things will be expected of the player.

But Lawrence believes the ex-Tynecastle midfielder has something going for him that perhaps some other eye-catching Junior signings did not quite have.

"Steven is still hungry for football and that's why I'm sure he will be a success with us," he said.

"He's a decent lad and I had a long chat with him the other night and he seems to have his head screwed on. He said that he was dying to get playing again which is why he chose to come to us rather than be a bit player at Stirling.

"It's a young age to come at play in the Juniors, particularly when he's definitely still got the ability to play senior.

"I think that shows that he's just keen to get back playing again and hopefully we can benefit from that and maybe he can benefit from playing regular football."

Boyack played in a bounce match against Berwick Rangers on Tuesday night and although he is lacking match sharpness Lawrence believes he has the quality to come straight into the side. "It was his first game and his fitness was certainly reasonable," said Lawrence.

"His touch was maybe off a wee bit but that is only to be expected at this stage.

"He made a couple of wee mistakes but if it was down to me I would have him playing from the start on Saturday.

"He's definitely a clever player and I hope he'll give us something that we've maybe not had this season.

"We've had an indifferent start to the league campaign winning three and losing three but hopefully Steven can help us get back to where we want to be."

Taken from the Scotsman