Latest news with #Airdrie
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Record
Airdrie & Shotts MSP Neil Gray welcomes new Scottish Government funding for independent hospices
The Scottish Government has confirmed that £5 million is being distributed to ensure pay parity with NHS staff. Airdrie & Shotts MSP Neil Gray has welcomed new Scottish Government funding for independent hospices to ensure their "fantastic" clinical staff get pay parity with those in the NHS. The Scottish Government has recognised the 'enormous value' of clinical staff in independent hospices in North Lanarkshire - and confirmed that £5 million is being distributed to ensure pay parity with NHS staff. The funding was announced in the Scottish Budget, with hospices now having their funding allocations confirmed so that staff providing essential palliative and end-of-life care in independent hospices are fairly paid in line with NHS pay scales. This will help hospices like Airdrie's St Andrew's Hospice recruit and retain skilled healthcare professionals during a time of rising workforce pressures and increasing demand for palliative care services. Mr Gray MSP said: "The independent hospices like St Andrew's provide vital support to countless families at the most difficult times in their lives. "That's why this SNP Government is supporting hospices across North Lanarkshire in paying the staff who are so integral to providing this care. "Hospice staff deliver incredibly skilled, compassionate care every day, and now their pay will reflect the immense value of their work."
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Airdrie boss: New striker a priority as side prepare for Ross County without recognised centre forward
The Diamonds host Ross County on Saturday in the Championship curtain-raiser but are light up top Rhys McCabe admits Airdrie priority is bringing in a new striker as the Diamonds prepare for Saturday's Championship opener at home to Ross County without a recognised striker. The player-boss watched his side crash out of the Premier Sports Cup on Saturday to League One Alloa Athletic, with the Wasps pouncing on Sean McGinty's error to grab a 3-2 victory in the 89th minute at New Broomfield. Airdrie played without a striker as midfielders Chris Mochrie, Lewis McGrattan and Dylan Williams all had a shot at playing through the middle over the 90 minutes. Last season's star striker Ben Wilson sealed a summer switch to Welsh side The New Saints and the club are yet to replace him, while former Aberdeen frontman Aaron Reid is out injured. The club are also still coming to terms with long-term club captain and creative force Adam Frizzell leaving for Derry City last month. So McCabe is well aware of his side's shortcoming ahead of the Staggies visiting. He said: "We are not the thickest of squads and we've got a lot of kids on the bench who are still in a development phase, where they aren't ready or shouldn't be ready to be in the first team at this moment in time, but they have to be because of numbers. We've had to include them more than we'd planned. "So we need to look and get a couple of additions in to help the boys out in key areas of the pitch. "A striker has been our priority for a number of weeks because we've lost our source of goals but what some people might forget as well is we lost our captain, in Adam Frizzell. "Frizz has been a big, big part of how we've played over the last few years. His creativity and the way he leads by example on the pitch is a big miss. "To lose your source of goals as well - and Aaron Reid is still out injured and won't be back until the end of September - is tough. "We are playing Mochrie through the middle or Euan Henderson and we are trying to play a system that allows us to not kill somebody by playing them out of position. "But, right now, we don't have a recognised striker in the squad, which is an area we are trying to fill. "We need to make sure it is the right one and we are not jumping in too quickly to get somebody that ends up being a waste of a number in the squad. "They have to add value and challenge whoever is in the squad. When Aaron Reid comes back or when the likes of Mochrie or Hendo are playing there, there should be competition. We shouldn't just be sticking someone there because we've got nobody else. "I don't think we are a million miles away from being set and ready for the season. "We are certainly short in a couple of areas but we aren't making excuses. "We've gone and beaten Dundee, we won every game up until this one so we can't use that as an excuse just because we've lost a game."
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Airdrie defeat to Alloa a reality check for Ross County clash, says Dean McMaster
The Diamonds went down to the Wasps in a five-goal cup thriller Airdrie midfielder Dean McMaster says their defeat to League One Alloa will serve as a 'reality check' ahead of Saturday's Championship opener against Ross County. The Diamonds were defeated 3-2 by the Sons on Saturday, having led 2-1 with an hour gone. Rhys McCabe's men topped their Premier Sports Cup group with a 100 per cent record going into the winner-takes-all clash with the Wasps, but errors from Sean McGinty gifted the Wasps a penalty shortly after Airdrie had taken the lead and then McGinty gifted the ball to Steven Buchanan in the 89th minute and the striker made Airdrie pay with his late winner. It means Airdrie miss out on qualifying as one of the three best runners-up on goals scored and McMaster - who is on the comeback trail after missing pre-season through injury - says that should serve as a warning ahead of the Staggies visiting on league duty. The 22-year-old, who is the club's vice-captain, said: "The goals are all individual mistakes. Alloa haven't really earned the goals, but that happens. "It was disappointing to go in 1-0 down at half-time. I think the first 10-15 minutes of the second half, we started really well and obviously get the two goals. After that, I don't know why, but we dropped off and we let them come back into the game when they never should have been in the game. "I think Alloa defended most of the game in their 18-yard box and we should never let them come into the game, especially with how dominant we are at home. "It is a reality check for us to show that it won't be plain sailing, winning every week. We need to get back to our best and make sure we win this coming Saturday. "It is so disappointing because the boys have put in so much hard work. Obviously, I have been in the stand for two of them but today was just one of those days where it wasn't good enough, and we need to correct that. McMaster made his comeback in Wednesday night's 2-1 win at Montrose and played the first half of Saturday's defeat, so he is delighted to be building up his fitness in time for the Championship campaign. He added: "It is good to be back on the park and get some minutes in the legs. I missed the whole of pre-season, so it is good to get the minutes. "As you could probably see, I am a wee bit rusty and I am not at my full fitness. I thought we started the game quite well, playing on the front foot with some nice passages of play, but we just didn't penetrate through to get that goal or those forward runs."
Daily Record
4 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Airdrie 'shot themselves in the foot' in Alloa defeat, says gutted gaffer Rhys McCabe
The Championship side missed out on the last 16 in agonising fashion to their League One counterparts Frustrated Airdrie boss Rhys McCabe admits they only have themselves to blame for being knocked out of the Premier Sports Cup by League One Alloa. The Diamonds had fought back from a first-half header from Owen Foster in their winner-takes-all clash at the top of Group C to lead 2-1 after an hour at New Broomfield. But a stunning striker from skipper Aidan Wilson and a Euan Henderson penalty for the Championship side counted for nothing as two errors from summer signing Sean McGinty gifted the Wasps a last-gasp win that sent them through as group winners. The former Hamilton Accies defender gave away a penalty just five minutes after Airdrie had taken the lead, fouling Kurtis Roberts in the box before Scott Taggart converted the spot-kick after 65 minutes. And in the 89th minute, McGinty gave the ball away to Steven Buchanan with a loose pass just inside the visitors' half and the Wasps striker punished Airdrie by charging forward and unleashing a low drive into the bottom corner. It means Airdrie miss out on a place in the last 16 as one of the three best runners-up due to them having scored fewer goals than the current third-placed team, Dunfermline. And gutted McCabe said: "We've had a wee chat in the dressing room and we know that we shot ourselves in the foot today. "But I don't want to take anything away from Alloa. They've had a great campaign, four wins out of four. They had a solid game plan but the way that we gifted them a way back into the game when we go 2-1 up is something that shouldn't be happening. "Sean is experienced enough to know that five minutes after you score, you don't take unnecessary risks. It was one of those ones where he has mistimed it. He thinks he can get the ball, but the boy nips in front of him and gets the ball. "But that was easily avoidable and that is the frustrating bit. "At the final goal, he tries to play in somebody [Dylan Williams] short but he turns his back at the wrong time and it is just a wee bit of miscommunication there. "Overall, we controlled a lot of the ball, we were decent in spells, but we didn't test their goalkeeper enough for all the possession we had. "I think we spent a lot of time in their half but we need to be more effective. "Of course I am disappointed. It's raw and I'm emotional after the game, but it has been a positive start [aside from this result]." The Diamonds had two goals ruled out in the first-half by referee Sean Murdoch, with Aidan Wilson and Chris Mochrie seeing their efforts chalked off for offside and handball in the build-up to their strikes. Asked what he made of the decisions, McCabe added: "I don't know, to be honest. I don't ask the referees anymore. "If he has given offside, sound, he's given offside. I've got no clue what they were ruled out for." Airdrie now look to their Championship opener next Saturday when they play host to Ross County.
Daily Record
4 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Airdrie 2 Alloa 3: Agony as Wasps sting Diamonds with late winner in group decider
The Diamonds were defeated by the League One side in the final moments to knock them out Airdrieonians were stung by a late Wasps winner in their Premier Sports Cup Group C decider with Alloa - sending them crashing out. In a winner-takes-all clash at the top of Group C, League One Alloa came from 2-1 down to stun the Championship side and reach the last 16 with a thrilling 3-2 win thanks to Steven Buchanan's 89th minute strike. An Aidan Wilson stunner - his first goal for the club - after 50 minutes cancelled out Owen Foster's first half opener for the Wasps, before a Euan Henderson spot-kick turned the game on its head on the hour mark to put Airdrie in the driving seat. Their lead only last a few minutes before Scott Taggart netted a penalty for the visitors to restore parity. With the game looking set for penalties, Sean McGinty gifted possession to Buchanan in his own half and he raced upfield to unleash a low drive into the bottom corner and send Wasps through with a 100 per cent record. Airdrie could have qualified as one of the best runners-up if they had held on for a draw and lost on penalties, but they have missed out on goal difference. The Diamonds made two changes from Wednesday's win at Montrose as Craig Ross and Rhys Armstrong were replaced by Dean McMaster and skipper Aidan Wilson. The League One visitors named the same 11 that defeated Dundee in midweek. In three minutes, the hosts created the first opening of the game when Chris Mochrie got in behind and fired the ball across the face of goal. The Wasps were only able to clear the danger to the edge of the box, where the ball found Lewis McGrattan and his attempt to curl one into the top corner drifted just over the top. Moments later Mochrie picked up the ball out wide on the right, left his marker for dead in the box and arrowed a strike towards goal, only for his thumping drive to find the side netting. The Diamonds were dominating possession, stringing some nice passes together, as they tried to find a breakthrough. Euan Henderson saw a strike on the edge of the box take a wicked deflection and loop just over the top, as the hosts turned the screw. And from the resulting corner Airdrie thought they had grabbed the lead. Aidan Wilson poked the ball home from Jamie Barjonas' corner, but referee Sean Murdoch was quick to blow for a foul in the box in the build-up. McGrattan cut inside after 25 minutes and unleashed a fierce, low shot that Liam McFarlane did well to batter away and when the rebound came back to the Diamonds midfielder, he saw his follow-up strike deflected over. From the corner, Airdrie came even closer to breaking the deadlock. King bent a corner towards the back post and Sean McGinty rose well to crash a header off the outside of the post. Down the other end, Luke Rankin should have done better when the Wasps got the break of the ball in the box. It sat up nicely for Rankin to have a swing at it, but he couldn't get the right connection on it to find enough power that would beat Cade Melrose. But the Wasps still had a sting in the tail and, against the run of play, they took the lead in 29 minutes. A Cameron O'Donnell free-kick out on the right was driven towards goal and although Melrose got a hand to it to keep it out, the Diamonds defence failed to deal with the rebound. Steven Buchanan was able to hang the ball up to the back post and Owen Foster out-jumped his marker to head home his first professional goal, and stun New Broomfield. Once again, Airdrie had the ball in the back of the net, only to see the goal ruled out. This time, it was Mochrie who turned the ball home but the near-side assistant referee flagged for an apparent handball in the build-up. The Diamonds turned to their bench at the break with Dean McMaster making way for Gavin Gallagher as they looked to get back into the contest. And just five minutes in, they were level - and in stunning style. Lewis McGrattan saw his pass across the box blocked and when the loose ball broke to Wilson, he took a touch and curled an outstanding strike into the far corner off the post, leaving Wasps No.1 Liam McFarlane with no chance. Within seconds of the re-start, Airdrie were almost in front when a through ball found Mochrie, but McFarlane stood up well to deny him a certain goal. That gave the momentum back to the hosts and on the hour mark, they found themselves in front. Henderson burst into the box and when Taggart stuck out a leg, he brought down the Diamonds winger. Henderson dusted himself down and converted the spot-kick, sending McFarlane the wrong way. But any hopes Airdrie had of that being game, set and match, were quickly extinguished when the Wasps netted a penalty of their own in 64 minutes. McGinty clumsily barged into Kurtis Roberts as the pair went for an aerial duel in the box and referee Murdoch pointed to the spot again. That allowed Taggart to redeem himself, as the skipper stepped up and equalised from 12 yards. Both sides pushed for a winner and it was Alloa who found it in the final minute of normal time. A miscommunication between McGinty and substiture Dylan Williams saw McGinty gift the ball straight to Buchanan just inside the Alloa half. The Wasps striker had loads to do, but he broke forward at pace and rifled home a low strike into the bottom corner to stun the hosts and book their place in the last 16. AIRDRIE: Melrose, MacDonald, King, McGinty, Wilson (Ross 58), McGrattan, Barjonas, McStravick (D Williams 78), McMaster (Gallagher 45), Henderson, Mochrie. Scorers: Wilson 50, Henderson 61 (pen) Bookings: King, Barjonas, Henderson Subs not used: Hutton, C Williams, McCabe, Aird, Cooper. ALLOA: McFarlane, Taggart, Devine, Waters, Foster, Hetherington, Roberts (Sammon 72), Scougall (Clarke 83), Buchanan, Rankin (Orsi 65), O'Donnell. Scorers: Foster 29, Taggart 64 (pen) Bookings: HT: 0-1
