Airdrie United seek defensive signings

Dec 21 2011 by Colin Paterson, Airdrie & Coatbridge

Jimmy Boyle

JIMMY BOYLE is looking to bring in reinforcements in a bid to shore up Airdrie’s leaky defence.

The Diamonds have conceded 47 goals in just 22 games and used eight different back-four combinations so far this season.

Now the Airdrie manager is ready to act in a bid to drive his side up the Irn-Bru Second Division table.

Boyle was running the rule over young Dundee United centre-back Ross Smith in a bounce match against Blantyre Vics at New Broomfield on Monday night.

And he was checking out possible loan signings in a closed-doors game on Tuesday between Rangers and Motherwell.

He told Advertiser Sport: “Results have not been good enough in this quarter and that is majorly disappointing for us.

“I think the most disappointing aspect is that we have had a settled team. We’ve not been mixing and matching or throwing people in.

“We need to get things sorted out quickly. We need to start pushing towards the top end of the table.

“The supporters are getting frustrated and I can totally understand that. Nobody is more frustrated than me and the chairman [Jim Ballantyne].

“We are looking to freshen the squad up as we have allowed players to go.

“And you won’t be surprised to hear that it is in defence where we are looking to strengthen.

“We have conceded too many goals. If we stop leaking goals, we will start winning games.”

Airdrie travel to Forfar Athletic on Boxing Day [kick-off 2pm] without the suspended pair of Paul Lovering and Rhys Devlin.

Centre-back David Lilley has a hip injury, which is being assessed, while striker Derek Holmes (ankle) is 50-50 for the trip to Station Park.

Meanwhile, the squad will prepare for the game with a training session – on Christmas Day.

“The players were coming in whether they were at the top of the league or the bottom of the league,” said the manager.

“We need to take care of ourselves during this period, we need to be professional and we need to do the right things.”

*THIS week’s Airdrie United lottery numbers are as follows: 10, 15, 27 and 28.

The draw is sponsored by All Waste Recycling & Hire Ltd of Carlisle Road, Airdrie.