Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Diamond geezers
Airdrie board and boss talk to fans at Q&A
Airdrieonians boss Stephen Findlay admits their away form this season hasn’t been good enough as they slipped to defeat in Ayr.
Despite a decent showing in the first half, the Diamonds capitulated in the second period as Andy Geggan scored from close range to nab the landmark before Lawrence Shankland hit a late double.
Airdrie have won just two away games this campaign and Findlay conceded that this would have to be drastically improved going forward.
“The aim is to make your own place a fortress. Our home form has been brilliant,”he told the Advertiser.
“We aren’t that far away from teams at the top of this league on the pitch. We match up well, but you have to win games away from home if you want to be a serious contender come the end of the season.
“There are 10 games left and our away record is something we have to improve.”
Despite the convincing win for the titlechallengers, Findlay felt his side offered more to the game than the scoreline would suggest.
“It was a game of two halves. In the second half they were the better team and we didn’t play well enough as a team. I would 3-0 flattered them and didn’t do our overall performance justice.”
He is keen to get back to winning ways this Saturday as they welcome Stranraer to New Broomfield.
He added:“There aren’t any easy games in this league and that will be the case against Stranraer.”
The Airdrieonians board still plan to own 100 per cent of the club as they look to build the Diamonds future.
Chairman Bobby Watson, vicechairman Martin Ferguson and board member Stuart Shields, along with manager Stephen Findlay and assistant Marc Fitzpatrick were grilled by fans at their first public meeting since the takeover.
When quizzed by fans, director Shields confirmed that the consortium do not own 100 per cent of the club – with around 20 per cent split between fans and the Ballantyne family – including former chairman Jim Ballantyne.
He insisted that they still plan to negotiate a deal for the rest of the club after a hectic opening to their tenure.
“Between the board, the consortium initially bought Tom Wotherspoon’s majority shareholding and we have the backing of Gavin and Walter Spiers (directors) who are already shareholders,” Shields told the diehard Diamonds.
“Currently there is a three to four per cent minority shareholding which is a build up of fans.
“The Ballantyne family still have 17 per cent of the shares.
“Given the fact that we didn’t expect to takeover as quickly as we did – although it’s possibly working out for the best – we came in at a very busy time in the January window and concentrated our efforts on putting together a team that can keep us in this league.
“Going forward, we will be making offers to the remaining shareholders.”
Shields also gave the support a glimpse into their plans to increase cash in the New Broomfield war-chest: “It’s about having more than just the game – and providing a whole match day experience.
“That way we can maximise revenue and give us a bigger funding platform to give to Stevie to invest in the first team.
“We are already making strides in that in the last few weeks, which has already shown this level of business can be maintained.
“We are hoping to maximise the revenue - we want to get in as much money as we can to put into the first team.
“If we do that, then Stevie can have his dream of winning the league next year.”
He continued: “Previously it’s always been about rebuilding, and as a fan gone were the days where we used to relate to the first team, and see players here for four or five years.
“We’ve gave Stevie a budget from now until the end of the season, we know roughly where our budget is going to be for next season and we’ve already started that planning. It’s now about building the foundations for years to come rather than moving from season to season.
“We’re not quite paying bottom dollar anymore – certainly not paying top dollar mind you.
“We do have the facilities and the management team that makes the whole package attractive.”
Gaffer Stephen Findlay told the room that he hoped to leave a legacy at the club and felt that it was important to plan ahead rather than rip apart the team every summer.
They noted that Motherwell loanee Luke Watt was out of contract in the summer and would be keeping tabs on him in regards with a potential switch, as well as eyeing up more targets.
“We have spoken to a number of people about where we are heading as a football club and the players we want to take forward as a football club,” Findlay told the gathered group.
“We’re quite well advanced in some of those conversations.
“We have got four players for every position that we want to bring in.
“I’m not going to bring in players who come here for the most money – I want players to buy into this football club and achieve something quite spectacular next season.”
Assistant Fitzpatrick added: “The boys now who are on full-time aren’t going to go and get another full-time team, so we are in the driving seat in that regard.
“We are the bottom team that is full-time in Scotland, so unless they rip it up they will be part-time next season.
“We can keep the boys we want to keep - and being a strong parttime team can be beneficial.”
Shields also gave assurance to the support that money brought in from the Diamonds lottery would be used for youth development.
Fans were also keen to know how the board and coaching team plan to develop the young talent.
“I was very fortunate during my first spell here to spend time working under Jimmy Boyle,” said Findlay.
“People may have varying views on Jimmy’s time as manager here but I learned about player development – and having a player that has been through your system that comes into your first team.
“I just have to say Dean Cairns to people – he has come through from the under-17s, the under-20s, the reserves and the first team. He gets it; he gets what it’s like to wear that Diamond.
“Where we are as a football club, we used to do a number of things with youth development and we need to go back to that.
“Myself and Gavin (Spiers) have presented a youth development strategy to the board in it’s first draft. I would hope to when it comes to sharing that with the fans that they will look at that and say the absolutely get where the club is heading in terms of it’s youth strategy.”
Bobby Watson was full of praise - and called for the fans to back the team through the highs and lows: “It’s a pleasure to be involved with the people on the board.
“The fans have sat and watched it for a while and it hasn’t been all together comfortable.
“There will be downs, but I wish Stevie all the success and I hope we will all hang in together.
“In this league it really is a battle but we have a point just to stay and settle ourselves down in League One.
“The way it has been; I think everyone would agree it’s important to settle down. Then we can have a shot next year.”
Vice- cha i rman and exManchester United scout Martin Ferguson also noted that he had loved becoming a Diamond.
“The one thing I have found here is honesty; you don’t get that at every team.
“I have had enough run-ins with boards and directors I can assure you.
“I think the future looks bright for Airdrie, and I’m already looking forward to next season.”