Garry O’Connor says he turned down offers from SPL sides to remain in Scotland for a second spell in Russia.

The former Hibernian striker signed a two-year deal with second division side Tom Tomsk last week.

O’Connor, 29, spent time with Lokomotiv Moscow between March 2006 and June 2007.

And he believes the standard of football in Russian football’s second tier isn’t a step down from Scotland’s top flight.

He told the Sunday Express: “From what I’ve seen, the Russian Second Division is the same level as the SPL.

“I had offers from clubs in Scotland and abroad. I weighed up all my options and decided together with my family to come back to Russia.”

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