By Chris Mac
June 30 2003

This story is from todays Evening Times: More publicity like this is what we are needing.It seems everything is moving along nicely for the first full preseason training and tour for Airdrie in three season.

Alan McManus hopes to play a key role in helping Airdrie to promotion after securing a summer Bosman return to New Broom-field from Ayr United.

Despite dropping a division, the powerful centre-back reckons he has come back to an Airdrie side whose fortunes are very much on the up.

Alan said: "I never wanted to leave Airdrie in the first place but circumstances left me with no alternative. I had so many good times with the club under Ian McCall that when Airdrie United were created I always hoped the chance to go back would arise. OK I have dropped down to Division Two but I've signed a two-year deal with the club and I know that Jim Ballantyne, the chairman, has big plans for the club and I want to be a part of that."

McManus, who turned down a move to Falkirk, is looking forward to returning to pre-season training on Tuesday.

Then there's a summer tour of Northern Ireland, before they open their league campaign against Morton.

He said: "Morton will be a huge game and one that could well draw the biggest crowd in the SFL on opening day."At 28, I still have ambitions to play in the SPL again. I have come back to Airdrie because the new club are every bit as ambitious and hopefully together we can complete the job Ian McCall started."

Let us all hope that he is right and that more good news is on the way with signing news soon.