Di Giacomo seeks Airdrie first-team berth

Jul 2 2008 by Colin Paterson, Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser

DIAMONDS new boy Paul Di Giacomo insists a move to the First Division is not a step backwards for his career.

The former Kilmarnock striker signed a one-year deal with Airdrie last week.

And as he got down to some tough pre-season work with his new team-mates, Di Giacomo revealed boss Kenny Black’s promise of regular first-team football lured him to New Broomfield.

He told the Advertiser: “The manager has given me an opportunity to come and play here and I am looking forward to helping the team have a good season.

“I spoke with Kenny and he is a smashing guy who is determined to see the club do well and I am pleased that he wants me to be a part of that. He said all the right things to me.

“I don’t see this as a step down, I see it as a good opportunity to play football regularly, something I never really had at Kilmarnock as I was always in and out.

“I still have a great relationship with Jim Jefferies and Billy Brown at Kilmarnock - I just didn’t get the opportunity at times. Maybe that was my own fault, maybe it was the manager’s decisions.

“The last two seasons have been frustrating and that is why I have moved on.

“I have come to Airdrie to play every week and the manager has assured me that as long as I am working hard and contributing to the team, then I will be playing. That is all I am looking for.”

Di Giacomo, who celebrated his 26th birthday on Monday, admits hard graft will be the order of the day when the season gets underway.

He added: “The First Division is a difficult league and probably the most competitive in the country as anyone can beat anyone on their day.

“Every Saturday at a quarter to five you look at the results and there is always a shock – but I am looking forward to the challenge.

“You need everybody to work hard and scrap. Some games will be horrible to play in but those are the ones where you need to battle to get a win or a point.”

Di Giacomo insists he isn’t thinking about his long-term future, and has set his sights firmly on achieving success with the Diamonds.

He added: “I am not looking too far ahead at the moment. I just want to get my head down and make sure I am in the team for the first game of the season.

“I definitely have the ability but to score goals you need your team-mates.

“My strengths are that I have some pace and like to put myself about a bit up front.

“I might have a good season and the chairman might offer me crazy money to stay.

“Who knows, maybe Airdrie will get promotion and we will all be there.”