Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Airdrie ace McCann eyes playing at higher level amid contract offer
Leon Mccann is determined to forge a successful career in football ahead of a pivotal summer in his career.
The 21 year-old is out of contract at Airdrie at the end of the season and although he’s been offered a new deal, Mccann holds an ambition to test himself at higher levels.
The talented left-back has drawn admirers from Scottish Premiership sides and clubs down in England but playing regularly will always be McCann’s priority.
“I’m very ambitious,”McCann said.“I’ve got full faith in myself that I can play at higher levels and I’m never satisfied with accepting where I am.
“I always feel that I can do better. I’m happy at Airdrie and with my performances but I feel that if I want to make a good career out of football then I need to start playing in the Championship or Premiership.
“I would love to re-sign with Airdrie if there was no chance of me playing first-team football in the Championship.
“If I’m constantly in my comfort zone then I’m never really going to fully develop. I feel if I was offered a contract at the Championship then I’d be silly not to take it. But if I wasn’t guaranteed gametime in the Championship then I wouldn’t leave Airdrie because it would be a step back.
“There’s nothing wrong with playing another 35 or 40 games at Airdrie because it’s a good option for me to have.”
Mccann’s main objective in his career has always been to play regularly to aid his development and he’s never been purely motivated by financial incentives.
He said:“money just isn’t my priority just now, I’m not focused on that at all.
“If I was getting offered more in League One than the Championship then I’d still choose the higher division because I want to push myself and play more games.
“I want to progress up the leagues. The biggest thing for me has always been to play regularly because I’m looking at my whole career rather than short-term goals.”
Mccann’s determination to play first-team football was a contributing factor in his decision to leave boyhood club Hamilton Accies in January 2020 after a successful loan move at the Diamonds.the former Scotland youth
internationalist hadbeen at Accies since he was 13 and Mccann captained Hamilton throughout youth level, including their famous UEFA YOUTH League campaign.
“I was at Airdrie for sixmonths, becamethe starting left-back and I just decided that I needed to play every week,” mccann added on leaving
Accies. “there was no pointin me passing up the opportunity to play to sit on the bench or the stands at Hamilton.
“I decided to part ways with Hamilton after nine years because first-team football is more important than anything really.”
Mccann has flourished underthe tutelage of Diamonds boss Ian Murray and developed into a keyplayer.
The ex-rangers star and Scotland cap was a talented, versatile footballer and his experience as a defender has proved invaluable to Mccann.
He said:“the gaffer has been amazing with me.he’s trusted me from day oneand he’s taught meso much. He will pull me to the side, speak to me about different aspects of defending and relate it to game situations.
“He’s really built my confidence with how much trust he’s placed inme. I’ve played every single game under him since Iwas 19 and it’s such a help that he wasa defender.
“He’s always calm and composed, he never shouts or screams at you and he’s always positive - it’s always constructive criticism.”