We’ll gel the perfect mix of full-time & part-time

MARK PIRIE

Marc Fitzpatrick reckons Airdrie have learned from past mistakes as they look to secure the perfect full-time formula.

The assistant manager has flip- flopped between part-time and full-time status since signing for the Diamonds back in 2014 as a player.

Since the former skipper signed at New Broomfield, he has seen the club switch to full- time under former supremo Tom Wotherspoon before the ex-chairman pulled the plug on funding.

He was then working with Stephen Findlay last summer as the club moved to a part-time model following the consortium takeover. It then moved to a full-time hybrid under director of football Stuart Millar and gaffer Ian Murray.

Fan favourite Fitzpatrick dubbed the decision of a Wotherspoon as a “knee-jerk thing” which the current board have learned from ahead of the new season.

“We just went out there and did it,” he told the Advertiser.

“There wasn’t really a plan in place before or after.

“I mean, we managed to get to third in the table and were in the play-offs, so we did okay.

“Then the owner pulls out for whatever reason and we don’t have anything in place. We can’t make a fluid transition and the club struggles.

“That’s what I would say is the big difference this time. Ian and Stuart knew what was happening before the end of the season and have been able to get everything in place. “They have been able to build something.” With the likes of Alloa goalkeeper Neil Parry and Ayr new boy Nicky Cadden leaving Airdrie as part of the move, Fitzpatrick felt it was important to recruit the best part-time talent as well.

“For me the decision to bring in the best of both worlds make sense,” continued the retired midfielder.

“To me that was the mistake when we went full-time the last time.

“We lost out on a lot of good quality players who went on to play at a good level.

“These are the players who you look it and think if we had them we could be a bit further up the table.

“This way we can be a lot more flexible. Now I think we are doing things the right way if we want to be competitive in this league.

“We’ve got a bigger pool of players to pick from, and the younger full-time players working alongside the part-time players will be really beneficial.

“The boys will all get along really well. That’s the thing about full-time and part-time players these days, there isn’t really a divide.

“The full-time boys know that the part-time players have lives and jobs – it’s about doing well for Airdrie at the end of the day.

“They players knew what it was when they signed and have bought into it.

“The most important thing, no matter what system we are using, is to win games.

“As soon as we start to go out there and win our games, climb up the table and are doing really well, nobody will care about what type of system we use.”

The 33-year-old was part of the playing squad the first time the squad made the move to fulltime in 2016. However, recurring injuries forced him to take a step into the coaching set-up at New Broomfield.

Having been part of a transitional time at all levels of the club, he feels “communication has improved” with the players and the die-hard Diamonds.

“I was player the last time we moved between part-time to full-time, so I didn’t really know as much about what was happening. We were all kind of in the dark.

“You relying on the manager to guide you and let you know where you stand.

“So it’s different when you’re the assistant. Players are coming to you asking questions.

“You probably know what’s happening before the players know so it’s good to be passing that on and keeping them informed.

“It’s the little differences that make it more transparent for the players and the fans.”

With pre-season well underway and a friendly

Playing days Marc Fitzpatrick on his last appearance for the Diamonds