Jim Ballantyne and Sandy Stewart attend meeting

By Chris MacMillan
March 5 2003

Tonight 5th March, Jim Ballantyne and Sandy Stewart attended the Airdrie United Supporters Society meeting. Answered questions freely and replied to all.

If Airdrie United are anything they are not the run of the mill football team. What other support can say that on whim their manager and director have attended two meetings and spoke freely about the finances, ground and team.

Tonight's meeting was opened to night by Supporters Trust representative Veronica, with an announcement that there will be a player of the year night and another induction into the Airdrie hall of fame on the 4th May. Tickets will be limited and the cost is £25 per seat. Tables holding ten can also be booked on a strictly first come first served basis. Mark Allison will be the contact for this event.

Mr Jim Ballantyne Airdrie United Director then took centre stage. His two main points this evening concerned the stadium and the supposed trouble at the St Johnstone match.

So to the stadium, no matter what the BBC have said and reported a deal has not as yet been completed for the purchase of New Broomfield, Airdrie United are Dudley constructions main tenant and they are not interested in making a quick buck from Falkirk. That does not mean that Falkirk will not be playing at the stadium next season, but Jim does expect to have a deal in place for our rental as quickly as possible. He does not expect that a short term lease holding both parties to a fixed rate would be advisable but instead a long term tenancy with no fixed costs is the way to go. Jim Balantynes example was to say if we are in the Premier League Dudley can freely expect more money and the reverse s also true.

Point two, anyone who was at the St Johnstone cup replay match and has a memory or thought about the way we are treated is to forward it in writing to the club. He has been called before the SFL disciplinary board due to his comments in the match program following the game. So anyone with any thoughts at all please forward them to the club.

Next up and coming straight from training tonight was Airdrie United manager Sandy Stewart. Sandy did well under the grilling he received and has made it clear that he is as disappointed as the fans at the teams inconsistency this season. Questions about playing Paul Armstrong out of position were answered and he also made it very clear that he and the tem want to be promoted out of this league and still see it as being very possible. He knows how disappointed the Airdrie United support are and hopes to turn it around. Other points concerning the possible signings of Mark Roberts, Stewart Taylor and Jesus Sanjuan were confirmed and reasons for these bids failing given.

So well done Jim and Sandy lets hope this next week improves our fortunes.