WHY DID YOU SIGN FOR AIRDRIE?
When the gaffer phoned me he explained the mentality of the club and how it works: they like to bring players in and, if they can move them on or get them back into full-time football if possible. The gaffer persuaded me, he seemed like a nice guy and very honest and it seemed like a good wee club to be a part of. I’ve made the right decision. 

​

DO YOU FEEL YOU’VE SETTLED IN WELL ENOUGH?
All the boys are great, I’ve settled in really well. The injury hampered me, because I hadn’t really been injured before and then in my third session I slipped in the ash doing running and tore my thigh. I came back and tore it again, because I came back too early. That hampered me settling in football-wise but apart from that I’ve been getting on really well with the boys.

​

OFF THE PARK, WAS IT HELPFUL KNOWING PAUL DI GIACOMO FROM YOUR MORTON DAYS?
Yeah, definitely! I know Jacko from there so that helped. I think it’s quite a young squad with a lot of young boys so you just get talking. Sometimes it can be quite intimidating going into a dressing room but it didn’t happen here at Airdrie.

​

FIRST GAME FOR US WAS AGAINST YOUR FIRST CLUB HAMILTON. WHAT WAS THAT LIKE?
It was kind of weird because I had just came back from injury and hadn’t even had a training session yet; the physio said my thigh healed, so I came back. And I was playing right mid, so as a defender it felt kind of weird again. It didn’t bother me playing against my former club, but playing right-mid was a bit alien.

​

DOES VERSATILITY TAKE GETTING USED TO?
A wee bit, I’ve been kind of used to it all my life really. When I was younger, even playing at Hamilton, I played right-forward quite a few times; and centre mid/right back/left back etc. You’ve obviously got your preferred position but it’s always good to be a wee bit versatile and good to appeal to managers if you can play in a few positions.

​

WOULD YOU SAY RIGHT BACK IS YOUR PREFERRED POSITION?
Not really, I’d maybe say centre-half. I’ve played right-back the past couple of seasons but before that I’ve been a centre-half. Right back is just as familiar to me now though.

​

WITH MICHAEL HART HAVING LEFT THE CLUB, DO YOU EXPECT TO GET MORE GAME TIME?
In that position now, even though I’ve played the last few games, we’ve got a couple of players for there. Right now the manager has said it’s mine but young Chris O’Neil is coming through and he’s a cracking wee player. If I have a bad couple of games I know the manager will take me out and put him in so it’s up to me to perform and keep it. I don’t think in any way, shape or form that that position is mine because there’s a few people who can play there. The manager has shown that no player is exempt from getting dropped at all.

Interview by Douglas Barrie.