UNITED SIGN KEVIN McGOWNE

A delighted Alex Smith called a press conference this afternoon to announce the signing of Kilmarnock centre half Kevin McGowne on a two-year contract. "I am pleased to have secured the services of Kevin for the next two years" Smith declared. "He can offer us great strength, experience and stability at the back of the team. He also is a player with great confidence in the air able to assist us in attacking operations in the box, particularly at set pieces. He is of excellent pedigree and has played with Jim Lauchlan in the past at his previous club where they developed that crucial defensive understanding. Furthermore, Kevin brings with him his experience in European competition, which is what we need in order to go in the direction we are ultimately aiming for - qualification for Europe. I consider him a very important and valuable signing."