SPECIAL FEATURE PART-TIME SWITCH IS SUCH A POSITIVE, INSISTS PRUNTY

Fans’ favourite back with Airdrie in youth coaching role... and excited to be involved with hometown club again

Mark Pirie

Fo r m e r A i r d r i e favourite Bryan Prunty left the club as they were making a switch to full-time – but is now back at New Broomfield as they return to parttime football.

The striker was left gutted when he was told he wouldn’t be part of Eddie Wolecki Black’s plans as Tom Wotherspoon’s full-time era began to take shape.

After his exit he enjoyed a successful spell with Arbroath where he lifted the League Two title, and continues to bang in the goals for Lowland League leaders East Kilbride.

However, the 35-year-old has always left the door open for a return to Airdrie - and is now back with his first youth coaching role.

The local lad will be helping to bring through the next generation of talent during the ‘Box Soccer’ football camps at the Excelsior Stadium this Easter and can feel the good vibes coming from the club since the new regime came in.

He has been following the trials and tribulations of the past season closely, and after the axe fell on his Diamonds tenure due to the full- time move, Prunty reckons the decision of Bobby Watson (pictured below) and the rest of the board to go back to parttime football is the best move.

In fact, Prunty believes a promotion battle could be coming for manager Stephen Findlay and his players next season with the positive feeling inside New Broomfield.

“I’ve seen what has gone on and who has come in and that seems positive, but what is important now is that they are taking the right steps for the future of the club,” he told the Advertiser.

“I think there has to be a touch of realism. It’s a big step for any club to have gone full-time – not just Airdrie – no matter the level you are playing at.

“So to me it seems like th e correct decision to go part- time again.

“There have been some ups and downs this season but they are gearing up well for next season. The manager will have a chance to bring in all his own players this summer and has already signed up a few.

“There is a lot of positives around the club just now.”

Prunty enjoyed a threeyear stint with Airdrie between 2005 and 2008 before rejoining for a two-year spell in 2014.

He completed his century of league goals while wearing the colours of his hometown club, and in 2015 rounded off the season as the club’s top scorer.

The striker made an impact on the pitch and gave his time to support fan and club initiatives off it – and is delighted to be back.

He hopes that some of the young players he helps in a coaching role will follow in his footsteps and pull on the Diamond.

“I have been talking to the club for a while about ways that I can get involved since the new regime came in,” said Prunty.

“I want to raise awareness about the club in the community and show what is going on at Airdrie.

“So we decided this is how we would arrange to get the badge out there.

“I have always been keen to help out the club with their community projects since I left.

“I always said that I would be happy to lend my services if they ever needed me.

“So we will see how this goes. If it doesn’t work out for whatever reason with the camps I’ll strip it right back and we can organise something else.”

He added: “It’s all about getting the next generation out there involved with the club. It’s a positive time for the club and I’m happy to help.

“The feedback on the camp idea is good so far.

“We were a bit late to put it out there for the Easter holiday but we are hoping for a good turnout.

“This is something new to me, but if it’s something that succeeds we will see how I can help in the future again.

“The guys at Box Soccer know better than me how to organise it. That seems like it will be the future of football in Scotland.

“As an ex-Airdrie player I’m happy to do things like go into schools and talk about the club. It’s positive and hopefully pulls in the next generation.”