Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Mccabe: Murray is happy to help
Airdrie’s rookie boss Rhys Mccabe revealed former gaffer Ian Murray will be happy to provide advice if he needs it.
Mccabe and his No.2 Callum Fordyce took the reins at Airdrie last month after Murray left for Championship side Raith Rovers, taking player-assistant Scott Agnew with him.
And as the 29-year-old returned for pre-season training on Saturday to take the squad for the first time, he says he can always bend the ear of his old boss as he gets to grips with management.
Mccabe said: “I’ve got a good relationship with Ian, I’ve been in contact with him over the off-season and having a bit of banter and what not as well.
“He has made it clear from the moment we went in that me and Dycey will get any help that we needed, the phone is always there, which is good.
“I think we had that relationship as players anyway. We respected him obviously as a manager, and vice-versa as older pros as well.
“The relationship is there, as there is with a number of coaches I’ve had and worked with, and it’s a case of leaning on these guys when you need to and learning as much as you can.
“But it’s important also not getting drawn into too many people’s opinions, and having your own say on things.”
After Airdrie took to the pitch for the first time since their play-off defeat in May, Mccabe added:“a lot of clubs are just reporting back. We were back at the weekend for an intro game to get the legs moving, because we were in the play-offs until the middle of May.
“It’s important that we gave the boys a fair amount of time off, because it was a long season and the manner in which it played out was mentally taxing as well as physically, with the extra time.
“They’ve had a proper rest and recharged the batteries, so we’re good to go now.”