Soccer: Old signs with Kilmarnock

All White Steven Old has signed a three-year deal with Scottish premier league soccer side Kilmarnock. Photo / Nigel Marple

New Zealand international Steven Old has signed a three-year contract to play for Scottish premier league soccer side Kilmarnock.

The centre half put his name to a contract keeping him at the club until 2012 after being granted a British work permit today.

Old has been trialling at the club since late January.

Kilmarnock manager Jim Jefferies said he was pleased to get his man.

"Having had Steven here on trial since January 22, it shows you how keen we were to get him," he told the Kilmarnock Standard newspaper.

"It's been a long process because there was so much information to gather and contracts to negotiate before going to the work permit appeal panel.

"He has to fly back to New Zealand as soon as possible to get his passport stamped at the British Consulate in Wellington and then return to Scotland."

Old, 23, has 17 caps for the All Whites after debuting for his country at senior level against Australia in 2004.

- NZPA