Airdrie appoint defender as assistant boss while keeper coach stays

Airdrie have appointed defender Aaron Taylor-Sinclair as assistant manager.

And popular goalkeeper coach David Hutton will remain in the dug-out, having signed a contract extension.

Taylor-Sinclair, 33, replaces Callum Fordyce, who unexpectedly left for Raith Rovers at the end of the season.

Former Motherwell, Livingston and Falkirk defender Taylor-Sinclair signed for the club in September 2022 and joined the coaching staff last summer, .

The left-sided central defender will continue to play in this coming season, and told Airdrie’s website: “I am thrilled to extend my stay at Airdrie, and also to take the next step in my coaching journey by becoming the assistant manager.

“I would like to thank the people behind the scenes, and also the manager, for initially bringing me to the club and giving me an opportunity to continue my playing career, progressing me to the coaching staff the following season, and now naming me assistant manager.

“The support I have received from the fans while playing and now on the side-lines has been great and we have managed to share some great moments in that last couple of seasons together.

“I’m positive there’s more to come, and I look forward to seeing what we can achieve in the season ahead.”

Player-boss Rhys McCabe said: “Sinky’s beliefs and personality gel very well with my own, and he brings a maturity to the coaching set-up.

“His knowledge and attention to detail, along with the way he delivers standards every day, is something that I’m looking forward to continuing working alongside.”

Hutton has been at Airdrie since 2022, having been brought back by McCabe for a second spell at the club.

He said: “I’m delighted to be staying on – I had some interest from other clubs, but this is my home, so there was never any chance of me looking elsewhere.

“I’m not quite ready to fully hang up the gloves yet, but I will be taking a step back from the playing side to focus solely on coaching, and I’m looking forward to working with the first-team goalkeepers as well as the bright young talents coming through the ranks. The future is in safe hands.”

McCabe said: “Hutts has been a big help, and a great success, in guiding the development of our goalkeepers with the way that I want to play.

“Having him apply that focus in a full-time role will only help me and improve the goalkeepers at the club.”

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