Queens frontman wants to pair up with Holmes

May 22 2009 by Kieran Westbrook, Dumfries Standard Friday

QUEENS frontman Stewart Kean is looking to pair up with new signing Derek Holmes next season.

Former St Johnstone target man Holmes joined the club last week, and Kean thinks he’d be an ideal striking partner.

This month ten Queens players have left Palmerston, including forwards Stephen Dobbie and Sean O’Connor, paving the way for Kean to stake his claim for a regular starting spot.

And he is looking to grab the chance with both hands.

Kean said: “I think Derek Holmes is a great signing for the club. He’s someone I’d definitely like to play alongside and hopefully strike up a good partnership with.

“That’s what you want to see – good players coming in. With big Sean and Dobbie leaving, it’s a chance for me to get more involved.”

While he is one of only two forwards on the club’s books, he knows competition for places will be fierce as up to seven more players could be heading to Palmerston.

“The season hasn’t exactly gone how I would like, so I’ve just got to get my head down, and get on with it. I’d rather have played more, and scored more.

“I’ll just keep working hard and hopefully get some more goals for the club.”

And Kean is keeping an eye on who will be joining the first division next season, as he could be facing two former clubs.

Kean made his name at Ayr and still lives in the town. The club drew 2-2 with Airdrie in the first leg of the promotion play-off final, and Kean thinks they would be a good addition to the league.

He said: “They’ve got a great chance of getting promoted. They’re doing well this season, playing well and scoring a lot of goals. I think they’re a big club and they’d do well in the division.

“If they can beat Airdrie who are a bit more experienced than themselves at this level, then it’d be a great achievement for them.”

Kean joined Queens after a spell at St Mirren, but he doesn’t think The Buddies will be lining up at Palmerston next season. They would need to be beaten heavily by Hamilton on Saturday, with other results going against them.

And he feels their experience will get them through.

“They’re obviously in a very different situation from Ayr, and looking over their shoulder.

“But they’ve been there for a few seasons and always seem to get themselves out of it, so I think they’ll be okay.

“I think they’ll be safe, but they won’t be taking anything for granted on Saturday and they’ll be looking for the win.”

Regardless of who will be in the first division with Queens next year, Kean clearly wants to be more prominent in the Doonhamers setup.