Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
No deal for loan kid Smith says Millar
MARK PIRIE
Airdrie director of football Stuart Millar says they aren’t considering a transfer swoop for loanee Callum Smith yet.
The forward has been a key figure at the Diamonds this term and is on loan from Dunfermline until the end of the season.
However, the 20-year-old’s contract at the Pars is set to expire at the end of the current campaign.
Millar says no talks have taken place with his parent club or the player at this stage regarding Smith’s future.
“Callum has done superbly well and we are absolutely delighted to have him,” he told the Advertiser.
“He’s on loan from Dunfermline and as I understand it he is out of contract in the summer.
“Dunfermline might be looking to keep him on. They might see him as a player for the future so we can’t get involved with that.
“We’re not thinking about a deal for him. We’re just happy to have him here.
“The only time I have spoken to him is to tell him how well he is doing after games.”
The Diamonds are set to welcome trialists from overseas to New Broomfield this month to bolster the ranks. Millar also notes that they have offered new deals to “four or five” of the squad.
“We believe that we could use another midfielder and strengthening up front,” said the Airdrie chief.
“We will have one or two French trialists come in this month so we can have a look at them.
“I have spoke to a first team players and made them contract offers. Kyle
MacDonald is an under-23 player who we have offered a new deal to and we have done everything we can to keep him.”
Millar expects some of their reserve side to exit on loan but wants to retain the core of the current dressing room.
“On the face of it people look at our team and think we have quite a bloated squad,” continued Millar.
“In actual fact we have quite a small squad with a number of young boys.
“We don’t have a lot of league experience in the squad so we won’t be letting too many players go.”