Manager’s programme notes
Posted : 5th September 2023
Tonight we will take a slight break from our Premiership campaign, as we welcome Larne to Windsor Park for this County Antrim Shield first round tie.
This game will provide an opportunity for several players in or around our first team squad to get much needed game time and I'm hoping they will impress against a team that will want to retain the trophy they've won in each of the past three seasons.
After tonight (due to the international under 21 call ups of Jack Scott and Chris McKee) we will have no game until the league game at Inver Park on September 15 but everyone will be working hard in training and we will be taking in the Swifts' game against Ballymoney in the Steel and Sons cup on Saturday.
We were disappointed to drop points in our recent 3-3 draw against Carrick Rangers. It was a frustrating game where we got ourselves into a position to win but unfortunately, were unable to see the game out.
After the Carrick game, 18-year-old Liam McStravick joined Airdrie on a permanent basis.
It's an exciting opportunity for Liam who rejoined this club from Cliftonville a year ago. We all wish him every success with his move and will watch his progress with a keen interest.
Andrew Clarke has also moved to Scotland, to train to become a doctor, by studying medicine at St Andrew’s University.
After a lot of consideration, he's decided that now is the time to pursue his ambition and devote his full focus and energy to following this career pathway.
It’s a wonderful opportunity and vocation for him and everyone at the club fully respects his choice and wishes him every success with all the intense but rewarding work that lies ahead for him.
With those two players leaving the club, we have been working hard to try and bring in one or two replacements and hopefully, we will have been successful with our efforts, before the transfer window closed on Friday past.
We were hopeful that Stephen Fallon and Matthew Fitzpatrick will have recovered from injury, to rejoin the squad for Saturday's game in Coleraine and if that was the case, that will have been a real boost for everyone.
Jordan Stewart has undergone a recent operation and along with our other long term absentee Robbie McDaid, progress will be monitored and assessed by our medical team.
The club has submitted an appeal against the recent five-game suspension imposed on Daniel Finlayson and I really hope that we will reach a successful outcome when the hearing takes place.
Kirk Millar needs one game to reach his 400-appearance milestone for the club and whether it's tonight or in the next game, it will be a great achievement for a player who's given excellent service to this club.
Thank you for your support tonight and in all our games.