Airdrie favourite returns to Diamonds with coaching responsibilities added

Goalkeeper David Hutton has completed his return to Airdrie - where he'll also work as a coach.

The Excelsior Stadium club lost number one Max Currie - who has now joined League One rivals Queen of the South - and deputy Jay Cantley at the end of the 2021/22 campaign.

Hutton arrives as the second signing of player-manager Rhys McCabe's reign after Montrose's Cammy Ballantyne, where he will also help his former Dunfermline teammate by taking up the goalkeeper coach position.

A popular figure around the Diamonds, the veteran joined Airdrie in 2018 from Arbroath, making 64 appearances before his 2021 departure. He's since been at Brechin City and Alloa Athletic.

Hutton said: "It feels unreal to be back at a club that means a lot to me, and where I belong in my eyes.

“I’m really looking forward to getting my teeth into my coaching role and helping to develop and push whoever comes in. “I can’t wait to get started and hopefully help to get Airdrie up into the Championship and hear our fans again - I’ve missed it bigtime!”

McCabe believes it's a shrewd acquisition as Hutton will bring the required levels of commitment he needs for another third tier season.

The boss added: “I worked with Hutts before at Dunfermline, and his level of application to training and his standards every day were always admirable.

“We know he can bring that to the pitch from a coaching standpoint - he’s played the game at a high level and is keen to pass on his experience and knowledge. “Having chatted to him he's in agreement with the way we like to play and conduct ourselves on and off the pitch, so I think he will be a real asset to the squad.”

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