John Rankin has warned Airdrie face a tough challenge in League One this season as he revealed what he will be looking for in his backroom team.
Preparing for League One Title Assault
The new Diamonds boss is preparing his squad for an assault on the League One title and an immediate return to the Championship following last season’s relegation. However, he stressed that nothing is going to come easy in a division where plenty of teams will have their eyes on the title.
Rankin, the former Hamilton Accies boss, told Lanarkshire Live Sport: “It is going to be a very tough league, let’s be honest. There are five full-time teams in the league now and it is always evolving, teams are getting better.
“When you look at the teams who have come up into the league like East Kilbride, they will build a good squad and play good football. I’ve played against them before and they are always attractive on the eye.
“Ross County, Queen of the South, Hamilton are all full-time. Stewart Petrie has been at Montrose a long time, Andy Graham will be hurting after the play-offs, so I know how hard it is going to be.
Embracing the Challenge
“But I love the challenge. We need the support and it is about making sure we come together as one. We want to build a team to be proud of and challenge, but at the same time being aware that this is a tough league.
“There will be pressure. I have got close friends who come here every Saturday and I have enemies who come here as well, that’s part and parcel of being from the town.
“That’s pressure. But there will be pressure on the players as well because we want to succeed. We need to embrace it and enjoy it, but apply ourselves in the right way. We need to come together as one and be happy with the product that we produce on the pitch.”
Backroom Team Requirements
Rankin has yet to announce his backroom team and, asked about who he might bring in, he said: “In coaching staff we need personality. Personality is the big thing for me.
“Sometimes you see personalities that are great on the pitch but not so much in the dressing room, and they cause problems. We don’t need that, we need players who will pull in the right direction.
“It is my job to recruit them and mould them into a team. You can’t throw 22 players together and hope it comes together in one day or a pre-season, so that’s why I’m asking supporters for patience.
“I can assure you we will have a team that is working hard, fit, competitive and will play football the right way.”
Rankin has already made two summer signings, including Fisher, as he builds his squad for the upcoming campaign.
