Feature: A look at potential signings
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading ...
Saturday’s defeat leaves Airdrie United potentially nine points behind Ross County with two third of the season gone. While it is by no means inconceivable that The Diamonds can make up that ground and win the league, there remains the possibility of qualifying via the play-offs at the end of the season.
However it is clear that there will need to be some additions to the playing staff for that to be the case. This feature will examine some of the potential signing targets who could help shape our squad. First of all, I’d like to stress that I do not advocate the club spending money they don’t have - we ALL have to be realistic, if the funds aren’t there, we can’t afford them, much the same way none of us would buy a house we couldn’t afford. This is simply an evaluation of some players who are available and who could help us - if finance dictates.
Rumours have been going around that Ian Harty has been training with the club. While I cannot confirm or deny this rumour, it is known that he is a free agent after his release from Darlington. Harty did us a real turn last season and would have been a big part responsible had we beaten the drop. He cannot be blamed for wanting to try his hand at a higher level, but he would be a valuable addition to our squad and along with Allan Russell and Stuart Noble would give us the best strikeforce in the division. A front two of Russell and Harty would be a real handful for any defence given their workrate.
However, the signing of Harty would only be possible should Bryan Prunty leave the club. Although I was a major fan of Bryan in his first season, he has done nothing since then and for me his attitude doesn’t look right. He does come across as someone who cares about the club but for me his efforts are more directed at crowd-pleasing gestures than in actually knuckling down at the pitch. Ultimately, you don’t go from Celtic to Aberdeen to Inverness to Airdrie reserves without some sort of problem. I’d also imagine he would be one of the higher wage earners at the club, so his exit could help fund the signing of Harty.
At the back, we clearly still have a problem. We lose far too many goals from cross balls and set pieces. James Sharp was brought into solve that problem but was a disaster and has now been released, so could it be time to turn to ex-Airdrie defender and strangely out of favour Morton defender Stewart Greacan, who has experience at this level and also has the physical presence that we have been lacking.
That signing could allow Stephen McKenna to move into a midfield role to fill the holding role vacated by Steven McKeown, therefore allowing us to spend his wage on bringing back Willie McLaren to give us an attacking impetus down the right hand side. Willie might have his critics amongst the Airdrie fans, but I honestly can’t see why. In a season where we waxed lyrical about Prunty scoring 15 goals to become top scorer, the contribution of McLaren (11 goals from midfield) was ignored.
Regardless of what you think of him, his pace gives us an option we don’t currently have and even when he didn’t play well, he was involved in chances. In my opinion, he was very harshly treated by the fans and I for one would love to see him back.
Feel free to post your thoughts below 
Harty would give us a goal threat upfront - I agree about prunty, he hasn’t kicked a ball for two years and sadly the time has come for him to move on!
Don’t think Greacan would come to us. I would take Harty but not McLaren - he is a waster.