Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Wins are a must now, says Findlay
Airdrieonians first-team coach Stephen Findlay admits his Diamonds have to start winning games if they are to challenge near the top of League One.
Play-off hopefuls Arbroath visit New Broomfield this weekend and Findlay is keen to lay down a marker for the rest of the campaign.
The gaffer hopes to shock those who wrote them off at the start of the season – with the new owners of the club ploughing money into the squad since their takeover.
“We went through a good spell there with the six games unbeaten – and even against Stranraer I thought we looked like the better team,”Findlay told the Advertiser.
“In that run there was a lot of draws and for us to kick-on we need to start to turn these into wins.
“We will just take one game at a time and concentrate on Arbroath – I don’t like to set targets for us.
“At the start of the season with the financial situation at the club our only goal was survival in League One.
“Now I’m in a position where I have been able to strengthen the squad and create a bit of competition for places.
“I’m very positive about where this group can go and I have seen a lot of improvement, but we have to start winning more games.”
Ross Brown from Livingston and exQueen’s Park keeper Willie Muir are the latest additions at the Excelsior – with former Diamonds defender Chris O’Neil understood to be in talks about a loan switch from Brechin.
Findlay is optimistic that Motherwell loanees Luke Watt and Jake Hastie will remain at the club for the remainder of the campaign – and is still hoping to add another couple of new faces to the squad. He said:“Willie is an experienced goalkeeper with over 150 appearances at this level – so it was a no-brainer for us and means competition for Rohan (Ferguson) in his position.
“We’ve been unlucky with injuries to Marc Fitzpatrick and Ryan Conroy will still be out for the next few weeks. We are a bit light on competition in the middle of the park and I see Ross fitting in there.
“I have a great deal of trust in Jake and Luke and they have been through the good and bad times with this group so I would love to keep them.
“I’m still in the market – and hopefully can add one or two experienced players. We will only make a move if the right players become available.”