Airdrie axe academy as DoF backs youth

Director of football Stuart Millar has urged four of Airdrie’s young stars to grab their first-team chance after the academy and reserve side were axed.

Striker James Hughes, 17, is the latest youngster to sign up for the 2020-21 season, following Joshua Burke, Joseph Moore and Scott Walker.

The calls come after the Diamonds confirmed they were“mothballing”the academy set-up for the foreseeable future in the midst of the recovery from Covid-19.

He said:“It’s four young boys who have been added. These guys will have a chance to come through to the first team a bit earlier, but they have to show ability to be given that chance.

“We’ve seen enough in these young guys last season to warrant a new contract.

“They’re the right type, they show the right attitude, we think they’ve got potential, but it is only potential at this stage.

“It’s up to them to develop it and push for a place in Ian Murray’s first-team squad.

“It’s a chance for them to prove themselves. I’m delighted for the four young kids, it’s an opportunity for them, and let’s hope they take that opportunity.”

Millar says Airdrie are close to adding “one or two” experienced targets to bolster their squad but he’s in no hurry to make signings.

“We have a very young team,”he said,“when you consider that we gave debuts to Leon McCann, Kyle MacDonald – two young full-backs at 18 – Josh Kerr was 21, Paul McKay at 22.

“We gave a debut to Reece Wilson, a young goalkeeper who was 21; Pat Pyott, who is out injured at the moment, got his debut at age 20. There are a lot of young boys that we have given opportunities to and that will be the way at Airdrie from now on.

“We need a few experienced players, because you do need the right balance.”

Millar says he won’t bring in people for the sake of it as he looks to next season:“There won’t be knee-jerk reactions. They need to be the right players.”