Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Brownlie looking up at Airdrie
Airdrie new- boy David Brownlie says the squad are eyeing a promotion fight this season despite a financial cloud hanging over the club.
The 20-year-old defender was brought in as the crisishit Diamonds first summer signing following a tough few months at New Broomfield.
The club have had to tighten the purse strings of the playing budget after Tom Wotherspoon stepped down as chairman — and Brownlie is the first new face added to the team this season.
Despite the turmoil at the club, Brownlie remains optimistic that they can challenge at the top of League One this term.
The former Ross County youngster moved to League Two outfit Elgin on a development loan last season and left the Staggies in search of first- team football this summer.
After a trial at New Broomfield, he impressed director of football Gordon Dalziel and coach Donald Jennow enough to secure a deal.
The centre-back made his debut against Livingston at the heart of the defence, and is looking forward to another run- out in the Betfred Cup against St Mirren
this Saturday. Brownlie has signed up at New Broomfield until January and hopes to make a positive impression.
“Obviously it’s brilliant for me to come straight into the team against a quality team like Livingston,” he told the Advertiser.
“It was a disappointing result, but we need to move on. There are some tough games ahead in the cup. We are still trying to improve our fitness as a squad, but we will go out to try and win these games.
“When I was playing at Elgin last season I think that was really good for me to be able to play a competitive level. That was great for my development and I want to carry that on at Airdrie.
“I want to impress here and show that I can make the step up.”
He continued: “Airdrie nearly got promoted to the Championship last season, so that means there will be a certain level of expectations on us this year.
“There has been a lot of changes over the summer but the boys are confident of what they can do.
“We have just got to keep pushing ahead and, hopefully, let the results speak for themselves.”