Style key for new Huntly assistant manager Stefan Laird
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NEW Huntly assistant manager Stefan Laird hopes to bring a style of football to the club that will attract players and supporters alike.
Currently head of youth development at Aberdeen Ladies, Laird (30) was appointed assistant by manager Allan Hale recently.
Despite being just 30 years old, Greenock-born Laird brings a wealth of experience to the role having come through the youth system at Rangers and played for Blackpool before a series of injuries ended his playing career early.
Speaking on his appointment, he said: “This is a great opportunity for me and I was delighted when Allan gave me the call.
“I’m looking forward to getting into the Highland League for the first time at a club with the history, background and status of Huntly.
“It’s going to be a long-term project and it’s just unfortunate we can’t get started right away.
“I’m looking forward to meeting the supporters and seeing what their hopes are. They are the most important people and I hope they will get behind us. We will need them and hopefully we can go on this journey together.”
Laird, like manager Hale, is hoping to bring an expansive and exciting brand of football to Christie Park.
He added: “There are realities to Highland League football so we are not going to be able to play like Barcelona, but we want to be a team that plays with the ball on the ground and on the front foot.
“Especially at home, we want to attack and try to win games. We want to be a free-flowing, fast, in-your-face team that players want to play for and that people want to watch.
“We want players to enjoy their football while working hard – we will have to match opposition work rates and physicality, that is the bare minimum.
“It’s a young squad and there is a lot of work to be done and the chairman knows that. But we want to start the process of getting this club back where it belongs.”
Laird picked up his coaching badges at Blackpool as a frequently-injured teenager, after his move from Rangers.
Moving home, he put those into use within two years and, aged just 22, he was coaching Greenock Morton’s under-20s.
After attending Aberdeen University, Laird worked with Aberdeen Ladies, where he was head coach and remains as head of youth development.
He worked in the youth system at Inverurie Locos, guiding their team to 18 months unbeaten and a treble before moving to junior outfit Maud as assistant manager.
The 30-year-old also owns his own coaching school – SJL Soccer Coaching.
“It’s a great thing that I’m young, but people think I’m very young to be a coach,” he said.
“I should still be playing and I can relate to the players mentally as it’s not long since I was them.
“But I’ve also been coaching for a long time, full time, and have been lucky to learn from some top coaches.
“Walter Smith, Alex McLeish, Colin Hendry and Neil Warnock – who I think has been the most influential for me. I played with Joe Hart at Blackpool and Barry Ferguson who was my idol growing up.
“Now it’s time to put what I’ve learned into practice and make my own mistakes.”
