Airdrie boss annoyed by Arbroath jumping the gun on Calum Gallagher signing

Airdrie boss Rhys McCabe admits he was annoyed and said Arbroath announcing a pre-contract agreement between themselves and striker Calum Gallagher wasn’t ‘the most professional way of doing things’.

The Red Lichties last week let slip that they had snapped up the 29-year-old fans’ favourite on a two-year contract for their drop down to League One next season, ending his five-year spell at the Diamonds.

Airdrie hadn’t sanctioned the move, and Arbroath later apologised and said it was ‘a miscommunication’.

Gallagher is Airdrie’s record goal-scorer in the modern era, and will be inducted into the club’s Hall of Fame, so the club wanted to announce the news with a respectful post.

But McCabe says the matter has now been put to bed, with the striker on the bench for Saturday’s 4-0 defeat at Partick Thistle.

McCabe said: “It was a conversation I’ve had with Gal, and we like to keep things in-house.

“I spoke to him, he had come and approached me, respectfully and in the right way, planning for next season and that was going to be an avenue that he was going to explore, which I have absolutely nothing against.

“I was a little bit annoyed that Arbroath put the statement out and didn’t give us notice.

“Especially a player like Gal, who is our club record goal-scorer, been an integral part of our transition, especially since I’ve come in, and for previous managers.

“He’s a club legend, who will go down in the hall of fame, so to hear the news from a fans’ point of view or even some players and staff hearing about it on a social media platform for me just isn’t the most professional way of doing things.

“Ideally the club would have liked to inform everyone with a nice wee respectful post.

“It wasn’t to be, I think Arbroath have apologised or something, but it’s put to bed and we’ve addressed it.”

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