AIRDRIE have announced they will not be funding their academy or reserve teams next season due to the financial impact of the coronavirus crisis.
The Diamonds insists they will revisit their decision in the future, have confirmed their sole focus next term will be on first-team matters.
A club statement read: “Unfortunately Airdrieonians FC have taken the difficult decision to mothball our Academy and Reserve Team operations this year, with a view to reassessing at a later date.
“The issue of preparing our facilities for reintroducing the professional game in a safe workplace environment for our first-team players is crucial, and we doubt that there will be many Academy or Reserve teams next season as most clubs are having the same crisis management issues at this time.
“We are grateful to all of our players, coaches, and support staff for their fantastic efforts over the years, with the winning of last season’s Reserve League Challenge Cup being a particular highlight. The Board of Directors.”
The move comes after the Lanarkshire side announced that 17 players would be leaving following the expiration of their contracts, and director of football Stuart Millar told how they would operate with a skeleton squad for next season.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel