Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Murray fills the vacancy at Airdrie
New Airdrieonians manager Ian Murray says he wants to “prepare his players for the Championship” after taking the helm at the Penny Cars stadium.
The former Hibs and Rangers defender, 37, signed on the dotted line on Friday night, leaving Norweigan club Asker to do so.
Murray, who has previously managed Dumbarton and St Mirren, was in the stand at Links Park on Saturday as his new side swept Montrose aside for an impressive 3-0 away win.
A Darryl Duffy brace preceded a third from Joao Vitoria as the Diamonds got back to winning ways after a period of stuttering form which saw Stevie Findlay part company with the club.
Murray, who has joined Airdrie in a full-time capacity, is now busily preparing for his first match in the dugout against Stenhousemuir this weekend.
He told the Advertiser: “When I spoke to your paper last week about the vacancy there had been no contact with Airdrie at all.
“I was happy with my life in Norway and had actually verbally agreed a new contract with more responsibilities.
“But then I spoke to the club on the Monday evening and it very quickly snowballed from there.
“Sometimes contract talks can be difficult but from the start we had the same idea about what we are looking to do.
“I got really good vibes and am impressed by the playing squad.
“We have to try and build the club up and give the players the best possible platform to perform in.
“There won’t be any radical overnight changes but we want to prepare players, especially the younger ones, for a step- up to the Championship in the not so distant future.
“I want to steady the ship, change the structure and then reap the benefits.”
Murray took up an assistant role with Norweigan second division side Asker last year.
He returns to Scottish football a wiser, more rounded coach and hopes the attitude displayed by the playing staff in Norway is found in Monklands.
He continued:“I don’t want to go around making any crazy statements but the Scandinavian lads do some things better than Scottish players.
“Granted, Scottish players also do some things better than them too.
“But the willingness to learn of the boys in Norway was incredible.
“They were a part-time club but we still trained five or six times a week and were very honest with themselves.
“It’s all about trying to make themselves better and in our culture we find excuses fairly easily. “That’s not something I want here. “I want us to progress and find ourselves in the play-offs come the end of the season.”