Millar: McIntosh went against his word

Airdrie director of football Stuart Millar has blasted Leighton McIntosh’s claims that the club were naive in announcing he had re-signed last summer – and insists the player went against his word.

In last week’s Advertiser, McIntosh said the club were hasty in announcing a deal last summer, and he instead joined National League side Wrexham.

But Millar says the player wasn’t honest with them.

In response, he said:“I’ve got to laugh when I hear him [McIntosh] saying the club was naive – we were taking someone at their word who had agreed to sign for us.

“I don’t want to get involved in a war of words with a former player, that’s not our style.

“Everything we do at Airdrie we do with dignity and we would like to think we do it with a bit of class, but I do feel on this occasion I need to defend the club and highlight the circumstances involved. It’s up to other people to judge who comes out of it in a better light.

“The bottom line is that Leighton McIntosh did very well for Airdrie that season, and the manager was keen to keep him. I had negotiations with both him and his agent, at several times the terms and discussions were breaking down, but eventually he agreed to sign for the club and we were delighted about that.

“I contacted the club secretary to do the paperwork, Leighton had agreed to come to the stadium to sign the paperwork. Airdrie were taking somebody at their word, but unfortunately Leighton didn’t appear at the stadium.

“It was only when we got in touch with him to ask where he was that he decided to tell us that he had a better offer elsewhere.

“I totally understand that, everybody’s entitled to have choices in life, but when someone gives you their word you take them at face value.

“Airdrie always announced signings on the back of people’s word and this is the only occasion that it backfired on them – it has been changed now, since this situation.

“Airdrie did everything by the book, and unfortunately somebody went against their word.”