Elgin City manager Allan Hale praises Kilmarnock boss Derek McInnes for ‘accommodating’ approach to loan deals for Aidan Glavin and Kian Leslie to Borough Briggs
Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes earned the highest praise from Elgin City counterpart Allan Hale after extending a loan agreement between the clubs.
Goalkeeper Aidan Glavin - who saved six penalties in a Scottish Cup tie for City - and speedy winger Kian Leslie will both stay at Borough Briggs until the end of the season.
Glavin, 19, and Leslie, who just turned 20, have played a big part in Elgin’s challenge towards the top of League 2 and McInnes allowed their loan deal until the end of December to continue.
Hale revealed he has had regular conversations with the Killie boss about his players’ progress in senior football.
“Derek McInnes has been unbelievably accommodating to deal with in terms of the financial element and things like that within the agreement,” said Hale.
“We've kept in regular contact through the loans and provided regular feedback to Kilmarnock and they've given feedback the other way from their side as well in terms of how things are going.
“That's been all positive from both sides and it was really pleasing that the players were willing to do it. I think you've got to remember they've got a four-and-a-bit hour journey to make just to get to Elgin so it's a nine-hour round trip for them to come to games and it's a big commitment on their part.
“But their performances have been excellent and they've both had regular runs in the team and performance-wise they've contributed to a team that's doing well overall so we're delighted to keep them.
“Hopefully they can replicate that form that they've shown so far which I'm sure they will and we'll also give them a platform where they can showcase the clear talent that they both have.
“The fact that they're so young but they're able to have contributed in the way that they both have, speaks volumes for them really.”
Hale revealed what goes on behind the scenes to make a loan deal work well, outlining his conversations with McInnes and his Rugby Park staff.
“We give regular feedback to and Gordon (City goalkeeping coach Milne) obviously gives regular feedback to Fraser Stewart the goalkeeping coach at Kilmarnock.
“So between Gordon, Stef (City assistant Laird) and myself, Derek and Fraser we're all in regular communication. We obviously don't speak every day as Derek's an extremely busy man concerning the job that he's got to do himself, but we're in touch pretty regularly.
“We've had that regular dialogue and it's important that it's not just the football. The players are here ultimately to play but from a welfare perspective we've got to make sure that the environment that they're coming into is a positive one.
“It has to be one that if they're happy with the travelling and everything else and the way that they're being looked after then the football then comes secondary. They've been enjoying it and we've enjoyed working with them, they're two good lads and they're good personalities to have about the place and both of them are full of personality on the pitch which is really pleasing.
“They've both made a really positive contribution and we've been delighted with them and delighted to get them to the end of the season.
“It was important that we'd done that before we'd done any other bits of business so you know the fact that we've got that agreed is really positive and I'm sure for the second half of the season they'll still do really well.”
Hale has also recalled Fin Allen from his loan at Huntly and the forward will come into his squad for Saturday’s League 2 trip to Forfar Athletic.
