Heart of Midlothian have confirmed the signing of 2012 Scottish Cup winner Jamie MacDonald for the club's B team.

The 38-year-old has signed a one-year deal and joins Liam Fox's side ahead of the start of the Lowland League campaign on Friday night when the team host East Stirlingshire at Ainslie Park.

Hearts have allowed Harry Stone and Liam McFarlane to leave on loan, joining Ayr United and East Fife respectively.

Fox explained that with the two current B team goalkeepers 16 and 15, MacDonald has been brought in to provide more depth and also help with their development.

“First and foremost, it’s great to have someone of Jamie’s quality and standing within the game added to our group," he told the club's website.

“Not only will he play a part on the pitch, but the learning he’ll provide to our younger players as well. He’s keen to come back, keen to play, and he knows he’ll be held to the same standards as anyone else in the dressing room.

“It might seem like an older goalkeeper will block the pathway, but it’s exactly the opposite. We’ve got two goalkeepers who have just turned full-time, one 16 and the other about to turn 16, and we didn’t want to block their path.

“Jamie will help them find the time to develop and make that next step to the B Team in the year to come.”

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MacDonald came through the academy at Hearts and made more than 130 appearances across eight seasons around the first-team. He played 26 games during the 2011/12 season, including the final of the Scottish Cup as Hearts defeated Hibs 5-1.

He has since played for Falkirk, Kilmarnock, Alloa Athletic, Raith Rovers and Greenock Morton.

“I’m delighted," he said. "It’s where I started in my career and spent a large part of my life here. To come back and be involved with the B Team is exciting for me.

“It’s a different kind of challenge but one that involved helping the next generation of Hearts players to come through.

“The aim of the B Team is to get the players ready for the first team environment. There’s been success with Aidan Denholm and Macaulay Tait, and that’s what all the other boys should be aspiring to.”