End of era at Rovers as Young bows out

He predicts big changes

Albion Rovers boss Darren Young believes it will be the end of an era at Cliftonhill as he prepares for his final game in charge.

It was revealed last week in a club statement that Young and his management team would not have their contracts renewed.

With cuts to be made to the current budget, Young thinks many of the star men could follow him out of the door.

Under the player/ manager, Rovers have secured three seasons outside of the bottom tier for the first time in nearly 100 years.

He also won the League Two title in his debut season, before making a push for the Championship play-off spots.

Young will make his final trek across the pitch to the dugout in Coatbridge against champions Livingston this weekend.

The gaffer admits he would have liked to take their promotion play-off fight to final game of the season – but is happy with his players work.

He said: “There are things I can look at now and say maybe I would have done them differently – but it has been a great start to my coaching career.

“I felt that we put a stronger team out on the park than we had last season.

“We met the objective we set out with at the start of the season to stay in the division – so the players and management can all be very proud.

“It looks like there will be a lot of changes this summer from a backroom and a playing perspective.

“It could be the last time a lot of the squad play at Cliftonhill.

“With the budget cuts there will be a big turnaround in playing staff which you can imagine will happen with what the team

have achieved.

“I’m disappointed in the way it was handled in the end but I know it comes down to the budget.”

Young offered his thanks to the supporters who had backed him and the team over the last three years.

He highlights the youth system and growing community presence as some of his proudest achievements.

“I want to thank everybody at the club and especially the fans,” said Young. “The fans have always been great whether it’s on social media after a game or meeting them on a Saturday night.

“We have won two games away from home over Airdrie for the first time in about 70 years, we knocked a Championship team out of the Scottish Cup with ten men and put ourselves on the map with a game against Celtic.

“We put a lot of things in place within the community and schools. We have a good under-20s set-up and have someone experienced like Brian Kerr to coach them.

“Myself, Billy (Stark) and Tony ( McMinn) have put a lot of work in behind the scenes so we just hope that is carried on.

“The decision to leave was made for us but there has been more highs than lows so I’m in a positive mood ahead of the last game.”

Chairman Ronnie Boyd was full of praise for Young but said that tough financial constraints meant a new deal could not be agreed.

“We have to work within the financial realities of the club,” he told the Advertiser.

“Darren has done a great job over the last few years – from both my position as a fan and a chairman. I sincerely wish him the best and I am confident another club will snap him up.

“It’s not about what Darren has done, or has not done. It is about living within our means. It is not about one personality or any individual. It’s not about a manager, a player or a chairman. It’s about Albion Rovers.”

Airdrieonians boss Mark Wilson hailed his players for their best performance of the season as they ran riot against East Fife.

As the teams kicked off at Bayview, the home side and the Diamonds were stuck on 46 points with Queen’s Park and Brechin City in a four-way fight for the final two Championship play-off places.

But the New Broomfield outfit