Airdrieonians left-back Kieran MacDonald has paid tribute to Head Coach Eddie Wolecki Black for putting his career back on track.

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The 22-year-old Diamonds defender signed a two-year extension to his contract to keep him with the Club until May 2018 on Tuesday night.

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And as he looked ahead to a return to full-time football the popular full-back told airdriefc.com: “Good times are going to happen at this Club and I am excited to see what the next two years - and I hope beyond - will bring for us.

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“When I came here at first I just wanted to get back playing and I knew I was wanted here, the gaffer Eddie made that clear to me.

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“I got the game time I wanted in those 15 games and started to get back to where I feel I should be.

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“What happened at Hamilton was strange to be honest, I was in the side but then all of a sudden the picture changed.

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“I was out of things and you just want to play don’t you?

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“I left for East Fife to play games but that didn’t work out and you start to worry a little bit.

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“I always had faith in my ability and I knew that the gaffer here did too, he told me as soon as I was fit I would play every week.

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“He told me then if I justified the jersey I would keep it. That’s what happened, he is a man of his word and I like that.” 

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As Eddie continues his battle back from the stroke he suffered and targets a staged return to work, Kevin McBride has been promoted to first team coach.

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Kieran revealed that move has been warmly welcomed in the dressing-room and he revealed: “I was actually with Barra as a youngster when I spent a week at Dundee and he stayed next to me and tried to help me.

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“He is a great guy, a top coach and he has a great way with people. This will be a happy place to come to your work and we know we can talk to Barra if we think something is not working.

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“He has so much experience, he played at a great level in 17 years in full-time football.” 

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There were some laughs at the training complex on Tuesday night as Kieran met up again with new Diamonds striker Andy Ryan who was there to complete his medical before agreeing his own two-year deal at the Club.

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Kieran and ‘Chucky’ were big pals in their days together at Accies and had a fun reunion as they looked around the strength and conditioning area, team rooms and analysis suite for the first time.

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And Kieran confessed: “The move to Ravenscraig was a huge factor for me, to come to your work in a place like this every day will be brilliant.

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“I was desperate to get full-time, it has been so hard for me to adapt to part-time football.

“I was out in the real world having to work and I found the real world wasn’t for me!

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“Seriously, I am a footballer and now my aim is to develop, improve and stay full-time for the rest of my career.”