Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
LOANEE ROW Accies defend youngster as Rovers look to strengthen
MARK PIRIE
Hamilton Accies head of academy George Cairns has blasted Albion Rovers boss Kevin Harper after his jibe at axed loan kid Jack Breen.
An extension to his temporary deal at Cliftonhill was ripped up just four weeks after new terms were agreed.
Harper stated last week that the 20-year-old midfielder asked to go back to New Douglas Park after he was left on the bench against Cove Rangers.
The League Two gaffer added he was “not disappointed that he has left the club but I’m disappointed that he didn’t want to stay and fight for a place in the team.”
Breen cannot play for his parent club after returning outside of the transfer window.
New Douglas Park chief Cairns, who is currently taking the first team alongside Guillaume Beuzelin in the absence of Brian
Rice, slammed the pop at the young talent.
“We will get Jack back out on loan, that’s for sure,” he said.
“I saw the Albion Rovers manager had some comments where he said that Jack didn’t want to stay and fight for his place in the team.
“To b e h o n e s t, I’m disappointed with that. You try and build a good relationship with clubs and they give players a chance; sometimes it just doesn’t work out.
“I didn’t think that was the right thing to do. It just didn’t work out for Jack at Albion Rovers and sometimes it just isn’t the right environment.
“He’s just a young lad so I don’t think it was right to do that. We spoke with him and we will get him another club.
“He played for our reserves on Tuesday night; he’s a talented boy.
“He’s a good player and has the right attitude in training. He would be the first name on my team sheet.
“I’m disappointed with how it went for him at Albion Rovers but some clubs are better with loan players than others.”
With the loan window set to close at the end of the month, the Breen war of words hasn’t put Harper off dipping into the market once again.
However, he says he is happy with the depth of his squad as they prepare to face Annan this weekend in league action.
He told the Advertiser: “We are still open to another deal but there is nothing in the pipeline at the moment.
“We have until the end of the month to have a look at players but we have got a strong squad at the moment.
“We have had a couple of injuries throughout the season but most of those players are back now.
“If we were to lose one or two then that’s an issue again and that’s when we would really need to take a look at it.”