Deuchar leaves for MLS

[Beefy]

Kenny Deuchar left the club today after finalising his move to Major League Soccer.

The 27 year-old has signed for Western Conference side Real Salt Lake, ending his love affair with Scottish football.

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The Utah-based club are currently in pre-season training and he will head to Rosario in Argentina on Friday for a series of exhibition matches.

They have a 10-year co-operative agreement with Spanish Giants Real Madrid, who are partly funding their $25 million youth academy, while construction work is underway on their new $110 million stadium.

Deuchar has agreed a standard MLS contract for two years, with the option of a further two, and admits the opportunity was too good to turn down.

“It was common knowledge that I wanted to leave the club for some time,” he said.

“And with my contract up at the end of the season, I could talk to other teams from January.”

“I decided I wanted to go abroad for a fresh challenge and to experience a different culture. I don’t have anything to prove in Scotland anymore.”

“America was my preferred choice so I contacted all the MLS clubs and got a good response. Real’s general manager Garth Lagerway got in touch and came to watch me against Rangers last weekend.”

“I had several offers in both England and Scotland but I felt this was the way forward for me. I’m so excited about it and can’t wait to get over there. We go to Argentina for pre-season on Friday so it’s all happened very quickly.”

“The MLS has obviously got a lot of attention since David Beckham moved to LA Galaxy and the game is growing in stature. It’s a new challenge for me and one I’m looking forward to.”

Deuchar joined Gretna from East Fife in 2004 and scored an incredible 41 goals, including a record equalling 6 hat-tricks, in his first season as they romped to the Third Division title.

The goals continued to flow the following year, with the ‘Good Doctor’ netting 25 times on his way to a second successive promotion and the Scottish Cup Final.

Amazingly however, he fell out of favour in the First Division and finished the season on loan at Northampton Town. He was big hit south of the border but it wasn’t enough for him to regain his place in the side and he went out for a second time to St Johnstone.

And it was at McDiarmid Park where he rediscovered his magic touch, scoring 10 times in 14 appearances for the Saints. He returned to Gretna in December and proved he could make the grade in the SPL with 6 goals to his credit.

In all, Deuchar scored 72 goals in 95 starts for the Black and Whites – a truly remarkable record.

[Beefy]

Jeff Stelling will be upset, he has a soft spot for "the doctor",