Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Gartcairn demand fee for star man
Boss Willie Kinniburgh has warned wantaway star Tony Wallace that he expects him to stay at the club if nobody matches Gartcairn’s valuation.
The striker penned an 18-month deal at MTC Park as the Airdrie side fought of offers from English sides to secure the deal.
However, the 29-year-old has asked to be transfer listed after being approached by senior SPFL clubs.
Gaffer Kinniburgh says he is willing to let Wallace go if a club offer up a fee, but otherwise expects him to be a part of their West of Scotland League preparations.
“The situation with Tony is that there have been a number of senior clubs who have contacted him,”said Kinniburgh.
“They wanted to see what his plans were.
“We have always said to any players who wants to go to senior that, if a club does come in, we won’t stand in their way.
“There will be a nominal fee to pay, but we have got to bring in someone to replace him.
“We have said to Tony that we will put him on the list until the end of pre-season, and if a club comes in and pays the fee he will leave with our best wishes.
“If that’s not the case we will just be looking for him to knuckle down and do his best for the club and he can leave when his contract is up at the end of the season.”
A potential exit of the former Clyde man follows a huge squad overhaul which has seen last season’s top scorer Ryan Donnelly and skipper Kevin Ross leave Cairn.
Kinniburgh went on:“There are a lot of boys who have done extremely well for the club and have been great servants for the club, and we thank them for what they did.
“It’s just time for a new chapter now. We now look to try and get the right people in for the squad and kick on.
“We have about 14 players sorted but we just need the names on paper.
“We’re not really announcing anything until it’s a done deal and it’s on our terms.
“We are still open to bring in players who tick a box and suit the club.
“There have been thousands of names passed to us, my phone has been going non-stop.
“You are going through the list and looking at certain areas, and the PFA transfer list, it’s relentless.”
He added:“This list from the PFA is probably the worst I’ve ever seen; a lot of teams dumping their reserves and young players.
“More players may be looking to drop down, but you kind of laugh when you hear some of the wages that they want from teams in our situation.
“Guys are commanding crazy, crazy money.”