Kenny’s the man to lead Airdrie, says Smith

Jul 22 2009 by Colin Paterson, Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser

DIAMONDS legend Andy Smith has tipped old team-mate Kenny Black to lead Airdrie United to championship glory.

The former hitman starred alongside the New Broomfield gaffer during a five-year spell with Airdrieonians between 1990 and 1995.

And the 40-year-old told the Advertiser that Black is the best man for the job as the Diamonds prepare to launch their assault on the second division title.

He said: “Kenny and Jimmy Boyle are two of my best pals in the game and I do keep in touch with them.

“When I watched Airdrie last season, they weren’t the worst team in the league. They have some good footballers and I think they will show that this season.

“I think Kenny is the right man to lead them back out of the second division and he will stick to his philosophies.

“They will be favourites and I believe they will win the division.

“I was amazed at the budgets some of the managers had to work with in the first division last season so you have to put things in perspective.

“Money doesn’t buy you success but it does help you bring in better players and that will always give you a chance.”

Smith isn’t surprised with Black’s determination to have his side playing neat passing football but says achieving success is all about matching steel and style.

“Kenny has a good balance of both,” he said. “He picked up a lot of yellow cards in his time but he could play as well.

“You don’t play for the clubs he did if you can’t pass a ball or finish.

“It’s about getting the right mixture between the two. Sometimes you have to take a step back to go two forward and I am hoping that will be the case for Airdrie.”

Smith admires Black’s dedication to his job and is hoping his hard work will be rewarded with silverware next spring.

“He is just a football guy,” added Smith. “He is always looking for players and has travelled down south lots of times to see what is out there.

“You want to see people like him do well and it would be great for him to get the club back up and then build on it in the first division.”

Smith forever secured himself a place in Diamonds folklore by scoring for the club in the 2-1 Scottish Cup Final defeat to Rangers in 1992.

And he revealed the club will always occupy a special place in his heart after enjoying the happiest spell of his career in Monklands.

“I moved back into the area because of my job and I enjoy going along to the Airdrie games and try and get up there as much as I can,” he said.

“I loved my time at Airdrie. I was in the right place at the right time as in my first season with the club we won the league.

“My days at Airdrie were probably the best of my playing career. For all I have come from Aberdeen, I consider myself one of the Airdrieonians.”