St Mirren manager Alan Stubbs has made Josh Heaton and Cody Cooke his first two signings – with the help of England striker Jamie Vardy.

Stubbs watched Darlington defender Heaton and Truro City striker Cooke in a showcase game hosted by the V9 Academy, an initiative that is the brainchild of Leicester marksman Vardy.

The pair were among 42 non-league players invited on to the programme and played in front of scouts and managers at Manchester City’s Etihad Campus earlier this month.

The Buddies have paid National League North side Darlington what the Paisley outfit have described as "the largest fee Saints have paid for a player in around 25 years" to recruit Heaton, 21, on a three-year deal.

Heaton said: "I can't wait to get going. The thought of playing against the big teams and striving to be the best and play first team football was something that brought me here.

"Every time I step on that park I want to win. I want to keep a clean sheet and I want our strikers to score as many goals as possible. I want to win games and I want to win trophies."

Saints manager Stubbs said: "I'm absolutely delighted. It's a sign of intent and I'd like to thank the board for putting their trust in me.

"You only have to look at the clubs who were wanting to get Josh and to have got him it's quite a coup."

Darlington manager Tommy Wright said: “Josh has been absolutely superb for us since he joined last year.

“He’s been a revelation, his ability has been without question and his determination to go to a higher level of football has been clear for all to see.

“I believe that he has only been playing at 60 per cent of his ability while he’s been with us, and he’ll step up a notch with St Mirren.

“It’s a very good move both for him and this football club – we wouldn’t be doing our job if we held the player back. As a club, we’re really proud to have had an input on his career.”

Cooke joins from Truro having netted 13 goals for the National League South side last season as the part-timers reached the play-offs and the FA Cup first round for the first time in their history.

The 25-year-old was also invited to take part in the V9 Academy showcase programme.

A Truro spokesperson said: “We can confirm that Cody Cooke has joined Scottish Premiership outfit, St Mirren.

“He has given excellent service to The White Tigers over the years and he leaves with our very best wishes for the future.”

Speaking before his training stint with the V9 Academy, which was hosted at Manchester City’s training base, Cooke, who had been at Truro for nearly seven years, said: “I'm in a good job and I've got a good club behind me with Truro, so it's difficult at the moment because the right offer has to be there.

"But if it is, I'll be jumping at that opportunity because it's something that you dreamt of as a young boy.

“For me for years I thought it would never come round and now it seems to be closer than ever.”

Hibernian head coach Neil Lennon, meanwhile, will be banned from the dugout for the first three Premiership fixtures of next season as punishment for his "aeroplane" celebration against Rangers.

The 46-year-old pleaded guilty to a breach of disciplinary rule 203, which states ‘no member of team staff shall commit misconduct at a match’, at a Hampden hearing yesterday.

An independent judicial panel doled out a one-match suspension for the offence at Easter Road on May 13, which saw an elated Lennon hare on to the field of play in the aftermath of Jamie Maclaren’s injury-time equaliser in a 5-5 draw against Rangers.

Lennon also had a suspended two-game ban hanging over his head following his angry rant at referee Kevin Clancy during Hibs’ 2-2 draw with Kilmarnock in February. That was applied following yesterday’s verdict.

With Hibs not involved in the Betfred Cup group phase due to their Europa League participation, it mean Lennon will be in the stands for the top-flight clashes against Motherwell, St Johnstone and Aberdeen.