Kilmarnock confirm Jefferies contract extension

Last updated : 06 August 2004 By Brian Murray
Kilmarnock chairman Jamie Moffat was a happy man as he confirmed today that French midfielder Eric Joly had joined the club and that Jim Jefferies and Billy Brown had agreed a contract extension for a further two years.

Moffat announced "We are delighted that we have finally got all the paperwork in place for Eric to join us."

Jefferies was also happy to have got his man after initially trying to sign him four years ago for Hearts. "He has got a lot of experience to give us in the middle of the park where we have a lot of young boys coming through.

" We tried to take him on loan, but the club were happy to let him come, and Eric wanted to come for longer and give Scotland a try, so we're delighted to be able to do it. He is similar in style to Stevie Fulton, playing in the middle third and switching play and holding things up for you. He's got a good range of passing and knows the game. He will be great for us because with the likes of Gary MacDonald and Rhian Dodds, they're full of enthusiasm, and Eric will be able to pick out their runs."

Kilmarnock offered Jefferies his extension on condition that he moved to Ayrshire, which Jefferies was only too happy to oblige. "The traffic was a problem. The quickest you could do it was an hour and three quarters, so getting up at six every morning to come through was difficult. I had been thinking about it for a while anyway, so when the chairman suggested it, it was only right that I should."

The chairman added " We are delighted that Jim agreed to both these things, to move to the area and that he wants to stay at Kilmarnock. The board believe that we are very lucky to have him on board. We have a good relationship with Jim, and believe we have a very good manager,he is a very shrewd operator with excellent contacts."

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