Forget Madrid or Milan, Airdrie is home for stars

APPARENTLY Airdrie are the only club Thomas Robert has ever wanted to play for.

Okay, it’s not exactly what was said but it might as well have been as the Lanarkshire side announced a Diamond signing in the arrival of the 19-year-old son of Newcastle icon Laurent.

Snubbing Ligue 1 for League One and a trip to Marseille for an away day at Montrose might seem a bit of stretch for the old imagination even if it’s what Airdrie boasted.

But he’s at the Penny Cars Stadium now and whether Airdrie beat Bundesliga, Premier League and Premiership clubs to the winger’s signature or not it looks some acquisition.

The Frenchman’s arrival in deepest Lanarkshire, announced moments after it emerged Aberdeen hitman Sam Cosgrove had rejected a move to that very country with Guingamp, simply confirmed that transfer silly season has arrived.

Back in January the Dons wouldn’t have flinched at a £2million offer for their top scorer, even if 12 months before that they’d probably have bitten your hand off for a fraction of it.

But it’s a sign of the desperate times football and the world over are facing. The credit crunch facing the Dons will get worse before it eases as the loss of £400,000 from playing Rangers behind closed doors on August 1 will be followed by Euro qualifiers also raking in no gate receipts.

And who’s to say English clubs, knowing the Dons’ price for their star man, won’t swoop in to tempt the former Carlisle man back south?

This window looks to be the toughest ever facing our clubs.

It might remain open until the start of October so there’s still months to do business – but with so much at stake there’s no time to hang around.

Neil Lennon said as much when he warned every point will be a prisoner from the first whistle in three weeks.

For the Hoops their flag raising day at home to Hamilton is every bit as important as any fixtures after the split in 2021. The same goes for Rangers and indeed every club in the country.

Yet with just 21 days until the Premiership kicks off urgent window work needs done.

The No.1 priority for Celtic is finding a new keeper with Scott Bain their only recognised first-team shotstopper.

Fraser Forster remains the top option for Hoops diehards but serious work is required if he’s to

This window looks to be the toughest ever facing our clubs

be convinced his future lies in Glasgow.

It’s a huge decision for Lennon whether to keep pursuing Forster or turn his attention to Joe Hart and David Marshall with such little time left.

Kilmarnock are even worse off between the sticks. Alex Dyer has no recognised first-team goalie to speak of.

And Steven Gerrard might have thought his Rangers backline was secure before Matt Polster’s return to the MLS left a lack of real cover for James Tavernier while Niko Katic’s injury has blown a hole in a solid back four.

Which means Gerrard could well be forced into some serious action before the opening day clash at Dons.

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