Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen has revealed that the opportunity to learn from a former Scotland centre back helped him decide his latest move.
The 22-year-old turned down the offer of a new contract with Dunfermline to return to England, where he has joined Wigan Athletic.
He's penned an initial two-year deal with the Latics, with the option of a further 12 months, after deciding his future lay away from KDM Group East End Park.
Chilokoa-Mullen had been strongly tipped for a move to the EFL (English Football League) League One side, having been previously linked with Aberdeen, with his new club saying they'd seen off interest on both sides of the border.
He made the move to the Pars in February last year from Leeds United, whose youth ranks he'd progressed through, having also had a spell in Liverpool's academy.
A Scotland under-21 international, who broke Jackie McNamara's Athletic record for caps earned at that level, during his time at East End, Chilokoa-Mullen quickly became a first pick.
He played 59 games - all starts - in a Pars shirt, including 44 of their 51 competitive fixtures last season.
That included May's Scottish Cup final, in which he led the team out for the club's sixth appearance in the competition's showpiece, which proved to be his last for them.
Chilokoa-Mullen was offered a lucrative deal to extend his stay at East End, but has followed Kieran Ngwenya - who Press Sport understands could also be set for a move south - and Matty Todd in leaving, after turning down fresh terms.
He moves to a Wigan side that finished 16th in England's third tier last season, under the charge of former Scotland defender, Gary Caldwell.
Capped 55 times at senior level by his country, the 44-year-old, played for clubs including Newcastle United, Hibernian, and Celtic - winning the 2007 Scottish Cup against the Pars with the latter - as well as the Lancashire outfit.
He was a substitute at Wembley when they won the 2013 FA Cup final against Manchester City, and then led them to the League One title as their manager three years later.
Caldwell returned for a second spell as their manager in February from Exeter City, having also had stints in charge of Chesterfield and Partick Thistle, and Chilokoa-Mullen cited his influence as being a factor in his decision.
"After I spoke to the gaffer and all the staff, it seemed like a promising project moving forward, and the club is looking to achieve big things this season," he told Wigan's website .
"They think I will fit in well, which is always nice to hear, and I will try my best every time I put on the shirt.
"The gaffer played in my position, so I can learn from him and receive individual tips. He's had a great career himself, and he will definitely help me."
