FLDiamond

Happy with this, he’ll get some really important goals next season.

We need to sign Gal as he contributes a fair few goals each season, we’ll need that. But agree that we need another striker signed up to create competition. Who that is? No idea. I’m sure McCabe has some names in mind. And Salim will hopefully be back in Autumn. I wouldn’t mind resigning Paterson at LB. I know he faded in some bigger games but overall he was a solid player. Guessing the cousins didn’t see enough to get the magic pen out. He’s out of contract with Celtic, right?

So I’ve taken a few hours to digest the news Think this is a BIG gamble but one that may pay off. I think the board knew that there could possibly be a mass exodus and that securing the new management team would help keep a majority of the team together which I believe it will. McCabe has undoubtedly learned a lot from last season but surprisingly, it was McCabe and Gallagher who were the ‘leaders’ on the field yet he has emerged as the new manager. So I’m confident that the Board see something in him, Murray most probably gave the thumbs up when asked (I’m sure he was) and now the team get to play with the familiar faces and in a similar style while ultimately strengthening the side. Agnew gone - good with that. Currie out - as mentioned, interesting that our new management team wanted a change in goal. Good with the decision. Easton gone - even if we made the Championship there was an outside chance of him leaving. You’d have bet the mortgage a couple of days back that he would be hooking up with Murray again. Have no issue with this, would have preferred him to stay but I live in the real world. Glad we’re not facing him next season. Additions - the names mentioned are encouraging. I guess we’ll see a couple of announcements tomorrow now the management team have been announced but suspect a couple of deals have already been done. I guess as long as McCabe has the team organized in a similar fashion to last year we should be in decent shape. I’m just worried about future recruitment which Murray demonstrated he could be very effective with. Will we get a DOF? And will that be a good thing?? I guess we’ll get a better idea of their recruitment strengths come January but this could play a huge part in any success we have next season and one of the reasons why I preferred a more experienced manager. But still lots to discover in how the back room team will be made up. The guys will need help. At 29, McCabe is probably the youngest manager ever in the history of the club. Crazy. I started supporting the club with Jimmy Bone and Alex macDonald at the helm and they seemed like old men to me at the time but you could see the experience at work and we punched well above our weight. I guess the same could be said for Murray in the last year but we will undoubtedly become the learning curve for this new management team. The stakes are high - emulate the same kind of success we had last season and they will be heroes. Finish near the bottom of the league with a similar squad and it won’t end so well. I’ll stay positive, give my support, keep taking stock of the emerging situation and give my opinion again before the season starts properly. As mentioned before, we can get promoted from 4th place(wish that wasn’t the case) and so who knows where we’ll be next year….

This is definitely NOT what I expected but I guess it’s worth trying and will most likely help the feel good factor at the club and may help keep the right players at the club. I’ll be honest, was hoping for more experience in the dugout but if McCabe can keep most of the team together and use the ‘if it’s not broken, don’t fix it’ type of approach with just a few upgrades and changes then it may work. Will be interesting to see the support they will get. Maybe Martin Ferguson calling on a certain relative to give advice? . Good luck to both, they’ll have a hard job of it next season in this league

Honestly, do us all a favour and start paying attention in class. You’ll get your phone confiscated in a few mins if your not careful. English class next, make sure your grammar is ok. now f**k off can we just start ignoring non Airdrie fans today? This thread has been a tough read today and when the wee boys finish up school it’s going to get even worse

Where did you hear this from? Could have an impact on who our next manager is

Agreed. Solid enough, but very replaceable. New manager will have his own ideas on a keeper anyways

MacKinnon or Kettlewell would be good appointments. I’m steering away from a rookie manager so unsure about Rankin but if he knows the town, the fans and understands the club then he may be the right man for the job. He’s going to have a hard time next season, this league will be tough. Much tougher than last season. As it stands, I think Montrose Dunfermline and Falkirk will be more than capable of beating each other next season. But early days, we’ll see who arrives and departs. If we can keep the basis of our team from last season and do some good business over the summer we’ll be in with a shout

He did but according either a Falkirk or RR fan he applied for Murray’s new job when it was up for grabs. He’d be good for Airdrie if our playing budget suited him. Honestly have no idea how this will work out or who we’ll get

Would take MacKinnon over inexperienced manager. Don’t want to have next season as a learning curve for someone. That’s why Agnew was never an option. RM has good contacts to bring in some talent and give us a fighting chance in the league

Nice badges!

I think if Murray had a Crystal ball and knew we could keep the team together and secure promotion this season he would probably have stayed. The fact is that as previous posters have mentioned, his stock is about as high as it’s ever been and if he failed to secure promotion next year he’d be parting company with the club anyway. Right now he gets to step up a league, more money for him, cherry pick our team and will know some of the best L1 players he can tout. I honestly don’t blame him for leaving and obviously a bit jealous. Promotion meant keeping pretty much all the players we wanted and hitting the ground running in the Championship. But you never know how this season will turn out. It may come all good in the end

Agreed. Maybe heading to RR?

I’m good with this…. Knowing that Easton and Frizzell will most likely be away, there are 5/6 I’d like us to keep. Agnew I’d take but not essential. I suspect we got that Murray message out quick so we can start interviewing asap. If they have someone ‘lined up’ we could have an announcement by Friday. Obviously lots of work to do between now and August

Would love us to have someone in by the end of the month. The club must have suspected this since last Sunday. The rumour mill starts now….

Applied for the Rovers job despite that. He's had a small operation and is back to full health already and looking for a full time job. Seems an ideal fit to me. Agreed. I think he’d be an ideal candidate and like you said, probably feels he has a point to prove. If McPake heads to Dunfermline then I don’t think there will be many other vacancies for him to apply for. We’ll see. Again, I’d be happy with the knowledge and experience he’d bring

After suffering a heat attack a month ago I’m not sure the best thing for him right now is Airdrie!!! But seriously, good coach with tons of experience, especially against Dunfermline and Falkirk. I’d be happy with him personally. Has good contacts in the game and a few of our players would respond to him coming onboard

I wouldn’t bet on someone at the club taking the position. I think the BOD will want someone with some experience to take over and steer the good ship Airdrie into the playoffs next season… I hope. A well experienced Manager is something we’re going to need to get the best out of whatever players we have. I’m really struggling to come up with some names so who knows how this will work out. For my money, between all the clubs, I’m liking Montrose and Falkirk so far. Montrose have the same squad, been knocking at the door a couple of years running and a probably where we were this time last year. For Falkirk they are surely going to drop some cash to McGlynn but I know they have a lot of diddies under contract still. But they will have renewed drive under new management, could be a different team next year. dunfermline… I’m undecided yet. Kelty Hearts? Depends on the manager situation but they have the cash. Things will be a bit clearer by next month

Yes

He’s a talented player who deserves the step up. Most of our team could be playing at Championship level, Frizzell among them. Picked up a few awards at the end of the season - I’ve no doubt Murray would like to take 2 or 3 players with him to Fife. Frizzell being one of them. Think Easton will be there too

You can have Frazzell, we’ll keep Frizzell. Seriously though, these 2 boys could do a job in the Championship easily

Unfortunately it seems my worst fear will be confirmed. Believed that Murray would be a Championship manager one way or another next season and promotion failure has cost us. And yes, I think that some key players will be away. Easton might be at Starks next season also. Unfortunately a re-build job might be on the cards and I have absolutely no idea who could come in. We have to be looking for play offs at least next season but right now it’s anybodys guess how our squad will look in another few weeks time. Board have to act fast, we need to get things in place over next 4-6 weeks

Heard there’s a few people in for it, Thomson wanting what he’s being offered from down south. Murray in with a shout, he’s got a chance of getting it. Hope he stays though

The oldest joke in Airdrie history! But yeah, love seeing a new strip unveiled. Away strip?

He was definitely wearing too much orange this season