bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sponsorType

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Unus Alladin

INSTANT-DICT, the ambitious league runners-up of last season, netted a double yesterday with the signing of key players in defence and attack.

  The ''Dickies'' signed Scottish striker Eddie Gallagher of St Mirren and have beaten Hong Kong First Division rivals Rangers to the signature of former St Johnstone 'keeper Lindsay Hamilton.

  Rangers have admitted defeat in the race for 31-year-old Hamilton but a quick course of action saw them sign former Norwich City 'keeper Mark Walton yesterday.

  Gallagher is expected to figure prominently for Instant-Dict, still without a major trophy to their name after three seasons.

  The 28-year-old Gallagher is set to fill the boots of former Instant-Dict striker Ian McParland, who departed to arch-rivals and First Division champions Eastern at the end of last season.

  Gallagher, who played with Partick Thistle, Dundee and most recently St Mirren is almost a McParland clone, being a support striker who can supply ammunition for target man Graham Harvey in addition to finding the net himself.

  Instant also made an inquiry for former Arsenal and Celtic star Charlie Nicholas - as did Rangers - but were told that the free transfer man was about to re-sign with Celtic under new boss Tommy Burns.

  Nicholas had been offered a stint in France and a player-coach post with Scottish First Division club Dundee but had rejected these in favour of a possible move to Hong Kong until the Parkhead club made their move.

  With the Nicholas move on ice, Instant-Dict swooped for the gritty Gallagher who has been recommended by central defender Roddy Manley.

  The Hong Kong Player of the Year is currently on holiday in Scotland but was given a brief by his club management to find a striker to replace McParland.

  McParland had initially been offered a new contract but it was later withdrawn following a training dust-up with co-striker Harvey.

  Eastern quickly offered McParland terms and he is now expected to team up with Hong Kong's top scorer, Dale Tempest.

  With a void to fill, Gallagher seems to fit Instant's requirement, having been a prolific scorer throughout his career.

  Scottish Professional Footballers' Association secretary Tony Higgins said: ''Eddie has been fixed up with Instant-Dict and should be a real asset to the club considering they have expats in Graham Harvey and Manley, both of whom played in Scotland at the same time as Eddie.

  ''He had the chance to go to a couple of European clubs but opted for Hong Kong when the offer came in. I think he will do really well in the Hong Kong First Division playing alongside Graham Harvey.''   Gallagher is due to arrive in Hong Kong with Manley tomorrow.

  Hamilton should also be a key signing having played for Scottish Premier Division side St Johnstone for a season (1991-92) before joining First Division Dunfermline Athletic. He also spent six seasons with Scottish side Rangers without breaking in to the first team.

  Rangers, still, were happy with the signing of their third choice 'keeper Walton, 25, after their failure to sign Hamilton and former Manchester United and Aston Villa stalwart Les Sealey.

  Rangers' team manager Philip Lee Fai-lap said: ''Walton wanted to sign a one-season contract instead of a one-month trial so we decided to give him the offer. We heard he had made a bit of a name for himself when he last played for Norwich City and we're hoping he could translate some of that form when he plays for us.

  ''He's a young, bright goalkeeper who has played at the top flight before in the English Premier Division so he should be a considerable asset to us,'' he added.

    Rangers have already signed former under-21 England striker Gary Bannister, ex-Peterborough United winger Bobby Barnes, central defender Mark Blake of Shrewsbury Town and Welsh defender Steve O'Shaughnessy.

  All five British players will be arriving in the territory this afternoon.



Rangers lose out in swoop by Instant