Rhys McCabe admits it was a ‘no-brainer’ to develop into the youngest supervisor within the SPFL.
The 29-year-old West Lothian footballer was appointed player-manager of League One facet Airdrieonians final week, the place he will probably be assisted by membership captain and cousin Callum Fordyce, additionally 29.
Polbeth-born McCabe was handed the reins following the departure of Ian Murray to Raith Rovers and advised the West Lothian Courier that the possibility to take his first managerial job within the recreation was just too good to show down.
He stated: “It’s been a part of the thought course of for a while since you’re not going to be a participant ceaselessly. I at all times noticed myself progressing into teaching and administration and I’m completely delighted to have been given this chance.
“When Ian left to new pastures the board floated the thought previous me and stated they thought I carried out a really related function on the park and requested if it’s be one thing I’d be excited about.
“They stated they’d get a assist construction and guarantee I’ve received all the pieces I want by way of backing and assist as a result of it’s clearly one thing that’s new and each myself and Dycey intend on enjoying.
“It was a no brainer for me to say sure. It’s a possibility I’m actually trying ahead to and I recognize the membership having the assumption to supply me the job.
"We're working collectively behind the scenes on how precisely that assist community will look however we're all on the identical web page on the subject of that and I've had a couple of interviews already with individuals."
Fordyce got here by means of the ranks at Livingston and featured over 100 instances for his hometown Lions earlier than departing in 2015.
The brand new Diamonds gaffer stated the centre-back was the apparent option to have has his right-hand man, commenting: “Dycey is somebody I can belief 100 per cent and he’s a pacesetter on the park.
“He’s clearly household and we’ll have our agreements and disagreements however I belief him and know all the pieces he’ll be doing and saying is for the fitting causes and intentions.
“I wouldn’t need to have anybody else beside me going into this job.”
McCabe was an enormous a part of the enjoying squad that introduced a feel-good issue again to Airdrie final time period as they narrowly missed out on promotion and tallied the membership’s longest-ever unbeaten league run as they went 20 video games with out defeat.
So he admits there’s no want for any drastic adjustments, saying: “The membership have been good. I’ll be doing my half with scouting, recruitment and contract negotiations - all of the off the park facet of issues. However that’s additionally a part of the place the assist community is available in.
“It’s clearly a facet of issues I’ve not been a part of earlier than however there will probably be a bunch of individuals round me.
“The membership’s in an excellent place proper now. We went on an extended unbeaten run, attendances have been up, there felt like an actual connection between the gamers and the followers.
“There’s no must make drastic adjustments as a result of for us it’s nearly persevering with that.
“There will probably be wee tweaks and some completely different faces by way of the squad however we nonetheless need to play good soccer and let the gamers go on the market and really feel like they've the platform to precise themselves and revel in their soccer and being at Airdrie.”
McCabe will probably be considered one of three West Lothian managers within the third tier subsequent season with Alloa being led by Brian Rice and Danny Lennon in cost at Clyde.
The midfielder says there will probably be loads of pleasant rivalry subsequent time period between the trio.
“I do know Danny effectively as a result of I do some teaching with him,” he stated. “He was one of many first individuals to succeed in out. He actually praised the membership for doing one thing a bit completely different and stated congratulations and provided his assist.
“He stated I can at all times go to him for recommendation in order that was very nice.
“There will certainly be a little bit of pleasant native rivalry within the division subsequent season, that’s for positive.”
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