April 2009 Archives

THE sun was shining, a night out on the town lay ahead and the following day was to be spent cheering on my team.

Weekends don't really come much better but my mood was gloomy as I began the drive from Clyde's Broadwood Stadium to my South Lanarkshire home last Saturday night.

Before a game, I sometimes imagine how things might pan out during the 90 minutes. What sort of performance will Airdrie United produce? What's the best possible result that can be achieved? That sort of thing.

But I didn't expect for one minute that Airdrie would crash to a 3-0 defeat to rock-bottom Clyde in their basement battle in Cumbernauld.

Having watched the Diamonds pull off a determined 1-0 victory at Dundee seven days earlier, a loss to the Bully Wee seemed inconceivable. Yet it wasn't.

There has been plenty of comment about the result and performance in the pages of the Advertiser, on this site and on supporters' messageboards. I think it is fair to say that everyone was gobsmacked at the abject nature of the display Airdrie served up.

And - forgive me for being negative for a moment - something tells me this particular defeat could have major ramifications for Airdrie's first division future. Suddenly, even a place in the play-offs is far from guaranteed.

Clyde are only a point behind the Diamonds and, on paper, seem to have the easier run-in.

Airdrie face Ross County this weekend then play Partick Thistle and St Johnstone. From the previous nine games combined against these sides, Kenny Black's players have managed just two draws and been beaten seven times.

It's not looking good is it?

Three points against the Staggies are now so important.

Airdrie produced their worst performance of the season last Saturday. We can only hope they have saved their best until last.

THIS week Clyde, Livingston recently and, Stranraer a few months ago.

Just who will be the next club to encounter the sort of financial difficulties that puts its future at risk?

Given that we are in a recession, I suppose it was inevitable that one or two Scottish football clubs would find themselves on the brink.

Clyde appear to be in real danger with debts of around £270,000, but Livi's situation is also a concern as they consistently fail to pay the wages on time.

Stranraer appear to be on the road to salvation after a social housing landlord stepped in and offered them a £250,000 loan to clear their arrears and sort themselves out.

But not everyone will find such charity. For some, there will be no second chances.

When a club runs into serious cashflow problems, I often find myself thinking about how others do their business.

Here in Monklands, we have two chairmen who will not allow bugets to spiral out of control. Airdrie United's Jim Ballantyne and Albion Rovers' Frank Meade have their fingers very much on the pulse.

There will always be some fans who feel that 'speculating to accumulate' is a necessity if success is to be achieved. But breaking the bank does not automatically lead you on the path to glory.

Hopefully both Clyde and Livi will come through their respective problems and remain part of the senior game in this country. However, what worries me is that they won't be the last to stare into the abyss.