Peterhead boss Jim McInally is delighted that striker Derek Lyle ended last season with two goals in his final two appearances as it made it easier for him to persuade the 40-year-old to push thoughts of retirement to the back of his mind.
Lyle who scored more than 100 goals for Queen of the South during three stints at the club, also found the net for Partick Thistle, East Stirling, Stirling Albion, Dundee, Hamilton Accies, Morton and Cowdenbeath during a career that started in 1999 before moving to the Blue Toon in 2018.
The goal-grabber told McInally that he was thinking about hanging up his boots when he hit his landmark birthday back in February however the Balmoor boss told him to put off any decision until the end of the season.
Lyle, who also has coaching duties at the club, scored against East Fife and Dumbarton in his final two games and those goals proved to be critical in re-signing talks with McInally saying: “The way Derek finished the season made re-signing him a huge priority for me. He was playing well in games and keeping defences busy but he probably needed the confidence of scoring.”
“He started at East Fife and put in an energetic performance and produced a great finish. He came off the bench at Dumbarton and scored a brave header. Derek more than proved that he should still be playing football at a good level.”
“We spoke after the Dumbarton game and he has taken a couple of weeks to decide what is best for him. Everyone at Peterhead is delighted that he has agreed to stay on as not only as a player but we have also formalised his role as our strikers coach.”
“He has more goals in him and will help others score goals so it is a good piece of business.”
