Airdrie United gaffer Kenny Black makes his case

Nov 25 2009 By Colin Paterson

AIRDRIE UNITED manager Kenny Black spoke at length with Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser sports reporter Colin Paterson this week.

These may be tough times for the under-fire Diamonds boss, but in a wide-ranging interview, he refused to duck the flak flying in his direction.

Airdrie host Queen of the South this weekend in the third round of the Active Nation Scottish Cup this Saturday looking for only their second win of the season.

Here is what Black had to say.

CP: What are your thoughts on the 4-2 defeat at home to Morton?

KB: "I have watched the game at length again. There was some extremely good play but also some naive play.

"We came out of the traps flying on Saturday and we certainly didn’t look like a team short on confidence. But when they had a spell when they were on top, we struggled to contain them.

"We are getting punished by not just losing goals, but losing games and points and that’s why we find ourselves where we are now.

"Confidence does get affected but I didn’t see much wrong with our confidence at four minutes past three when we were 2-0 up.

"The opposition are always going to have their spells and that’s when there has to be a mental toughness to grind things out.

"Sometimes you have to forget about the intricate play and concentrate on being big and strong. If you just have to get the ball in the channels for two or three minutes, so need be."

CP: Can you describe the mood of the players at training on Monday?

KB: "They were a subdued bunch. I work with these boys every day and I see their reactions when they suffer a defeat.

"I feel the players take a pride in their work. I don’t know how they are on a Saturday night or a Sunday but I do know how they feel at full-time and when they come in on a Monday.

"We have to be upbeat at this difficult time. Nobody at the club will enjoy watching us lose goals and lose games. We have to pick ourselves up because no-one else will.

""This season hasn’t been ideal from the very kick-off. We have found the preparation difficult in being promoted late to the First Division but also been affected by injuries which have been the worst I’ve known in three years here."

CP: Why did you bring on Kevin McDonald for the injured David Nixon which resulted in Ryan McCann, who was having a good game in the middle of the park, being pushed to right-back? Did you consider using Darren Smith as part of the back four?

KB: "That was a consideration. Darren's last involvement at right-back was a long while ago and the reason I went with Ryan at right-back was that he is more familiar with that position in recent games.

"I also thought the disappointment that Kevin might have felt at being left out in the first place might well have triggered a little bit of drive for him.

"There were two ways of doing it and at the time I decided to go with Ryan at right-back and putting Kevin in midfield. Unfortunately it didn’t really have any real effect the game.

"But that’s the decision you make and similar to the Darren Smith/Alan Trouten one ahead of the Ayr United game and you are faced with a dilemma on who to play wide right.

"Thankfully we made the right decision as Trouten scored two goals.

"It certainly didn’t help us with David going off. Making a change to the back four isn’t something I really like doing."

CP: How damaging do you think the defeat to Morton is?

KB: "It’s damaging in that Morton are one of the teams closest to us and we were looking to claw back the three points they won against Raith Rovers last week while we lost at Inverness.

"To say we were extremely disappointed with the end result, having been 2-0 up, was an understatement.

"How damaging will it be? Time will tell, the end of the season will tell that. There are a lot of points still to be played for, still to be won and lost by a lot of teams.

"We have to pick ourselves up as it was a real body blow to lose that one."

CP: Is it still your intention to carry on as manager?

KB: "When you are entrusted with managing a football team you have to do it to the best of your ability.

"I have been here for three years and you are faced with ups and downs. That happens in football.

"The easy thing is to turn and walk away. I think you lose your dignity in the game if you just down tools and say 'that’s enough, I can’t cope with being barracked by supporters, I can’t cope with defeats every week'.

"I think this type of situation makes you a stronger person and there are no more determined characters than myself and Jimmy Boyle (assistant manager).

"We would love things to improve and we thought we were getting there on Saturday. But in the second half we didn’t trouble Morton.

"I won't walk away from anything. The easy way out, and what would probably please a lot of people, is to shut the door and walk away.

"But that’s not in my make up and I will continue to do this job to the best of my ability until I am told otherwise. Simple as that.

"All you can do is give it your best shot and if the time comes when that is not good enough, I can look at myself in the mirror and pride myself on the fact that I tried to do the right things, tried to have my players playing in the right way and trying to pass on as much knowledge as I can.

"I’ve still got confidence in these players, I still believe in them. I see them still sliding into tackles and running to try and keep the ball in play, looking to score a goal to make it 4-3.

"I don’t think for one minute that these players have downed tools. Certainly not. I do see them angry and disappointed when mistakes are made but I think that's healthy.

"The players don’t need reminded that they have let themselves down this season but there is a gulf, especially when you have the selection problems we have had this season."

CP: Can you understand the frustration of the supporters?

KB: "I can understand the fans’ frustrations and have understood for a few weeks now.

"The good thing is the fans are taking the time, effort and finance to come to the games and they are quite entitled to voice their opinion whatever way they go.

"They aren’t silly, they see a team has lost a game 4-2 having been 2-0 up. Who is the man in charge? The manager. He is the man who takes the flak.

"I am the one who puts them on the park so I take full responsibility. I certainly won’t shy away from things and I certainly won’t be saying the supporters should give me time."

CP: You recently celebrated your third anniversary as Airdrie manager. How would you describe your reign so far?

KB: "Rollercoaster is one of the terms I would use. We nearly got ourselves out of trouble in my first season.

"We then entered the play-offs which have been a big, big part of my three years. The final with Stirling Albion still rankles with me.

"The following season we were competing in the Second Division with Ross County who were worthy winners of the championship.

"We are then in the play-offs but faced a Clyde side just that little bit stronger than us and we were ravaged by injury, particularly in the second leg.

"And then last season we enjoyed the Challenge Cup success and I enjoyed putting my old club Hearts out of the League Cup but came up short again in the league.

"We have had a lot of highs and a lot of lows. There has been something every season from the Gretna demise to the Livingston scenario.

"Building a team has been difficult because we have been in the play-offs has been a problem. Players are not going to hang around to find out which division Airdrie will be playing in."

CP: Airdrie face Queens in the Scottish Cup this weekend. What are your thoughts ahead of the match?

KB: "The draw could have been kinder to us but in our current situation what would have been an easier draw for us?

"We have to play a lot better than what we did down in Dumfries but I thought the performance in the game that finished 1-1 here in August was pleasing."