THERE’S a new kid on the block, and Billy McKie reckons Gartcairn are here to stay.

Airdrie’s first junior side in almost 80 years have been accepted into the Central District Second Division and manager McKie can’t wait to get started.

The decision to accept brand new club Gartcairn into the junior fold was ratified at the Scottish Junior Football Association’s AGM last month – and now it’s all systems go.

But as if launching a new club on to the public stage wasn’t enough to contend with, boss McKie had one more trick up his sleeve – the announcement of marquee signing Tam McManus.

The 34-year-old striker, who played more than 100 games for Hibs, and was capped by Scotland Under-21s, will play for Gartcairn this season.

McKie told SportTimes: “We are delighted to get our hands on Tam. He only signed a couple of weeks ago but has already raised the profile of the club tenfold.

“The move came about by chance. His mum works beside me and I know her quite well. When she told me her son was retiring, I thought ‘if you don’t ask, you don’t get!’

“He spoke to the club and liked what we had to say. We offered him a coaching role and that seemed to help clinch his signature. It is a brilliant signing for Gartcairn and he lives quite near us in East Kilbride.

“I see it as a similar type of situation to that of Robbie Winters signing for Rossvale last season. There is the bonus of getting a player in of Tam’s experience and he has instantly raised our profile – and helped us attract more sponsors to the club.

“He is also a draw for potential signing targets, so I see it as a win-win situation for all concerned.”

Preparations are already well underway as Gartcairn gear up for their first campaign in junior football.

The club already run a successful football academy and have teams ranging from under-5s right up to over-age players. It is a real community club, and it’s not just football they concentrate on, but other sports too.

McKie, formerly manager at Newmains, Kello and Lugar, insisted the opportunity to join Gartcairn was far too good to turn down.

He said: “We are determined we won’t just be around in the juniors for the short-term. We have already signed 18 players and will perhaps recruit another one or two maximum.

“We don’t want to be carrying too big a squad, because of the inevitable problems that brings of trying to keep everyone happy.

“Once things settle a little we will look at finalising the squad but at the moment we are all delighted with the way things are going.

“We started pre-season training at the start of last month and then gave the players a fortnight off before resuming again. When we started, we hadn’t formally been accepted by the SJFA but had spoken to the game’s governing body, who told us they didn’t see a problem with our application.

“It wasn’t a case of jumping the gun but we just didn’t want to be left at the starting tapes while everyone else gobbled up all the best players. We went about things the right way though, which is important for the integrity of our club.”

McKie added: “We are an ambitious club and I reckon that with the squad we have assembled we should be up there in the mix. We have a thriving under-19s and under-21s at the academy and the hope is that they will produce some players for us in the future.”

McKie has a wealth of experience in the Junior game and has been on the coaching staff at Pollok, Craigmark and Dalry Thistle, and has also been a youth coach in the senior game with Ayr United and Clyde.

At Gartcairn, he will be supported by a strong backroom team including assistant Gary Johnstone, fitness coaches Jim Broadley and Ian McKnight, as well as goalkeeping guru Scott Cochrane.

McKie is well aware that everyone at the club is making a little bit of history, but insisted he has no spare time at the moment to dwell on that.

He said: “All our time is taken up with making sure everyone is ready to go at the start of the season, but I’m sure we will look back one day and enjoy the part we played in the club’s historic first season.

“Craig Armstrong has been the driving force behind our bid for junior football and he deserves enormous credit, as do many others. It has been a real team effort that has got us to where we are today.”

Gartcairn’s Academy has its own home ground – MTC Park in Rawyards – but it looks as though the Junior side will play some of their home games at Airdrie FC’s Excelsior Stadium.

McKie explained: “Initially, we have been given permission to use the pitch at the Coatbridge Outdoor Centre, which is similar to Dam Park in Ayr.

“But the SJFA have given us permission to play some of our games at Airdrie’s stadium on Friday nights, but only if the opposition has no objections.

“Everything is coming together nicely, though, and we can’t wait to get started. We have fixed up a few pre-season friendlies and get underway next Saturday down at Ardeer Thistle. That will be some day.

“The Friday after we host Albion Rovers at Airdrie’s ground. We serve the whole of the Monklands area and that is where we will be looking to draw our support from. We also have matches against Rossvale – who are the perfect model for us to follow – and Airdrie.

“We are all excited and history is in the making. I must admit, it’s great to be a part of it.”