New Alloa Athletic star Colin Hamilton says the chance to come and work under Danny Lennon was simply too good to turn down.

The former Hearts trainee played a crucial role in Brechin City’s march to the SPFL Championship playoffs last season and the talented young full back admits he was impressed with his new manager’s brand of football and now hopes he can fit right in to that system.

The 23-year-old is now eager to test himself against some of the biggest clubs in Scottish football in the highly competitive SPFL Championship next term.

Hamilton told Advertiser sport: “I am thrilled to sign for the club and in knowing who the manager is, as soon as I spoke to him, my mind was made up that I wanted to come here and play my part in what he is trying to build here. I am excited to work under such a highly rated coach with what he has already achieved in the game and so it was a huge factor in me coming here because I am well suited to his style of football.

“I came up against Danny’s side last season in the playoffs and I was impressed by the way he wants his teams to play the game and so hopefully I can fit in well to that style. Everyone I have spoken to has also told me that it is a very good club so I am delighted to be here and ready to get started. I am excited for the season to start now because playing in this league will be a step up for me and I cannot wait to test myself at this level.

“You have the likes of Rangers, Hibs and St Mirren in the league as well as huge clubs like Raith, Morton and Falkirk so every single match will be a test for us and to turn down an opportunity like this would just be silly. I have played against Rangers with Brechin in League 1 and against Hibs at Easter Road as a youngster at Hearts so I know what kind of challenges those games will be, but they are ones that I am keen to take on and it won’t phase me.

“The excitement begins to build now until the first league game and the fixtures coming out only heightens that. It is a difficult start for us, but I am sure we will be well prepared for it when it comes around.” Hamilton was the manager’s first signing of the summer after being brough in as a replacement for Dundee-bound Daryll Meggatt and the talented young full back reckons his predecessor’s path to the premiership is proof of what can be achieved at the club.

He said: “The progression of Daryll Meggatt at the club is an example for any young player coming here. He started off with a point to prove and certainly done that in his time here so it just goes to show that there are always people watching and if you can do well for Alloa then who knows what can happen.

“I want to come here and do my best for Alloa Athletic first and foremost then we will see where that goes. If I can get to that level of performance then I am sure it will be great for both myself and the club.” One challenge that does excite the Wasps new boy is the prospect of coming up against his former manager Ray McKinnon when they meet his new look Raith Rovers side this season and he hopes it will be the new look dressing room at the Indodrill Stadium who can claim the bragging rights.

Hamilton added: “It will be good to come up against my old manager Ray McKinnon when we meet Raith this season. That will be a new challenge for me, but one I look forward to and hopefully we can come out on top.

“I don’t know a lot of the lads and we are almost a completely new team, but everyone has been so friendly and welcoming to me so I am sure we will get to know each other in no time.”