Airdrie have been cut adrift at the bottom of the Irn-Bru First Division ahead of this weekend's visit of Falkirk.

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The Diamonds are ten points adrift of Cowdenbeath who occupy the relegation play-off position and 11 behind eighth-placed Dumbarton in the table.

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Jimmy Boyle's men have gone almost eight long months without a win at New Broomfield and are staring automatic relegation in the face.

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By contrast, Falkirk enjoyed a 2-0 win over Dunfermline Athletic at East End Park on Wednesday night and are looking forward to playing Hibernian in the semi-finals of the William Hill Scottish Cup.

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It has been a difficult campaign for all concerned at Airdrie with chairman Jim Ballantyne admitting it's a case of simply getting to the end of it and then rebuilding.

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He has asked supporters to stick by the club and pleaded with fans to come along to the final three home matches against the Bairns, Partick Thistle and Livingston.

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A crowd of just 554 - the lowest Saturday afternoon attendance since the formation of United nearly 11 years ago - witnessed the 2-1 defeat to Raith Rovers last weekend.

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And the chairman says that sort of figure on a regular basis is simply unsustainable in terms of the running of the club.

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He said: "It's hard. We have had the season from hell through none of our own making.

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"It's now just about getting to the end of the season, regrouping and looking to build again.

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"Being thrown into the First Division at the last minute has been absolutely horrendous.

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"I appreciate that there are things the fans are not happy about but my message would be to stick with us for these final three [home] games of the season.

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"The crowd on Saturday was one of our lowest and the club is not viable on crowds of between 500 and 600."

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On the personnel front, Boyle hopes to have Chris O'Neil and Nathan Blockley available for selection but injury may again sideline Gavin Griffin, Grant Evans and Paul Di Giacomo.