Wales delight at Kirkcaldy switch

Wales aims to help Raith gain promotion this season

Raith Rovers have signed striker Gary Wales on a free transfer until the end of the season.

The former Kilmarnock and Hearts forward had been looking a new club after leaving Rugby Park in the summer.

Rovers manager John McGlynn said Wales, 29, would cover for injured strikers Steven Hislop and Gareth Wardlaw.

Wales said: "I'm looking forward to working with John again. I know Raith's ambitions to gain promotion to a higher league and that's where I belong."

The striker, who scored 18 goals in four years at Rugby Park after signing from Gillingham, worked with McGlynn at Hearts.

And Wales was relishing kick-starting his career at Stark's Park.

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"I know at first-hand John's standards and his high level of professionalism," he said.

"I'm looking forward to playing under him again."

The forward said he was confident of helping Raith secure promotion this season.

McGlynn believed Wales was at a "crossroads in his career" and that he would be a huge asset to the club.

"I'm delighted to welcome Gary to Raith," he said. "I worked with him at Hearts a few years ago and, when the opportunity arose, I was very keen to get him.

"The injuries to Steven Hislop and Gareth Wardlaw have left us short of strikers and we're not scoring enough goals.

"He's joined on a part-time basis until the end of the season. He's a good character and will fit into the dressing-room comfortably, which is also very important."