Calum Gallagher admits Airdrie made a courageous transfer in appointing his team-mate Rhys McCabe as player-manager – however he insists the 29-year-old is a pure chief who has the complete backing of the squad.
The Diamonds striker has signed up for an additional season at New Broomfield after netting 16 objectives in 43 appearances final season, simply three shy of high scorer Callum Smith.
However over the summer time there was an enormous change within the backroom with Ian Murray’s four-year managerial reign ending with a swap to Raith Rovers and McCabe changing into his successor.
McCabe is the youngest boss within the SPFL and whereas Gallagher acknowledges it was a daring alternative, he believes it was the appropriate one to make sure Airdrie hold constructing on the good foundations of final season, which noticed them push Cove Rangers all the best way for the League One title earlier than simply lacking out on promotion within the play-off remaining to Queen’s Park.
The 27-year-old stated of the appointment: “It's actually thrilling.
“It was very courageous of the membership to go and appoint him.
“However we’ve actually cultivated one thing over the past couple of years by way of our personal spirit, ethos and approach of doing issues.
“I believe we had been all reluctant to see that change with the appointment of somebody with completely different concepts, so it suited us.
“The core group, the board and Rhys are ready to construct on all the great issues we've got in place, reasonably than going to the supervisor merry-go-round.
“It should include its personal challenges however the spirit is so excessive on this group, we are going to all be pulling in the appropriate path.
“Rhys would be the figurehead and the chief of all of it, however it will likely be an actual collective effort this season
“I believe one of many causes the board made the choice is as a result of they know Rhys is aware of the calibre of the gamers within the dressing room.
“In a dressing room with egos, this appointment doesn’t work.
“However on this one, it feels actually pure to have Rhys as a result of all of us noticed it final season within the dressing room simply how a lot of a frontrunner he was.
“It's a pure development for him and we place confidence in him that he can lead us on and off the pitch.”
Gallagher, who's gearing up for a fourth season with the Diamonds having joined from Dumbarton in the summertime of 2019, admits it can really feel odd at first when gamers report for pre-season coaching, seeing their team-mate now on the helm.
So the ex-Rangers youth is glad to be lacking the early days of pre-season to permit others to find out the suitable terminology.
He added: “The very first thing I requested him after I went in to signal for subsequent season was: What do I name you now, gaffer or Rhys?
”He’s not one for getting forward of himself. He is aware of the place he's in.
“The boys will in all probability be desirous to name him gaffer every now and then and he’s earned that with what he’s completed to date.
“He’s very modest and I believe he needs to do the job first and fear about these issues later.
“I’m glad I’m lacking the primary couple of days of pre-season as a result of I’ll be capable of observe everyone else’s lead.
“However he's the gaffer now and everybody might be comfy calling him that.
“He won't be comfy listening to it however I’m certain he’ll develop used to it.
“After the success of the final couple of years, it was a no brainer for me to signal once more and I’m delighted.
“The core of the squad is sticking collectively and, having had a lot success and loved it final 12 months, I used to be determined to get it over the road.”
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