Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
GAFFER STILL HAS THE HUNGER
Darren is keen to get back on the training pitch
Albion Rovers playermanager Darren Young claims he is as hungry as ever to keep playing this season.
The 37-year-old has just achieved his UEFA‘A’ coaching licence.
Young spent last week in St Andrew’s with first-team coach Tony McMinn as the duo completed the year-long course.
And coupled with the fact that Young is about to undergo his 22nd summer of pre-season training, he could be forgiven for wanting to wind down.
But his recent coaching excursion hasn’t deterred the Cliftonhill gaffer when it comes to wanting to contribute on the playing front.
He said:“I feel I’ve still got the spark in me to improve.
“I’ve still got that hunger in me to get out there and play and to contribute to the team.
“I know I probably deserve a rest - I’ve had more pre-seasons than some of the boys in our changing room have had birthdays!
“But I’ll know myself if i feel I’m struggling to keep up and, when that’s the case, I’ll take a step back.
“I’ll know it’ll be time when I can’t get a game for my own team.
“But if I feel I deserve to be in the team and if I’m playing
well then I’ll pick myself.”
Rovers started their pre-season schedule last Thursday and while Young is pleased with the current state of the squad, he admits he wants at least four new faces in the door.
He added:“It was a hectic break with trying to organise signings and pre-season along with doing my‘A’ licence as well as finding time to relax.
“But we’ve managed to keep the same backbone and the squad is looking good.
“We have 12 lads at the moment but are on the lookout for four or five more.
“We’re talking to players and we’ll hopefully have an answer from some of them, one way or the other, by the end of the week.”
The club have two friendlies arranged against Motherwell and Falkirk, before the start of the revamped Betfred Cup - something Young believes has it’s pros and cons.
He explained:“It’s a different set up that might add some excitement to it at this stage.
“But it makes things in pre-season slightly rushed as everything is brought forward a week.
“Of course, clubs will want to do well and go as far as they can in the competition.
“But the league is still the priority for teams so I think some of the games might still be treated like that.”