Aird hopes for right blend

05 May 2013 14:32
Fraser Aird insists he would welcome competition from more experienced players as Rangers boss Ally McCoist seeks to bolster his squad. The 18-year-old scored the only goal of the game in Saturday's 1-0 win over Berwick before the Irn-Bru Third Division champions were presented with the trophy in front of a packed Ibrox. Aird is one of a number of youngsters who have impressed after being thrust into the spotlight as Rangers started from scratch in Scottish football's bottom tier. But the midfielder believes more senior professionals are needed at the club next term as they continue the journey back to the top. Aird said: "Hopefully the gaffer does bring in a lot of older boys and experience. "It was the experienced boys who took us over the line this year because they have been there and done it - the likes of Lee McCulloch and Neil Alexander. "So the older boys he brings in will hopefully just make us better. "We want to win the championship again next year so hopefully he brings in enough players and keeps the right balance with the young boys and we can win it again. "It's been a long journey to be honest. For us young boys getting a chance this year has been brilliant. "I don't think any if us thought at the start of the year that this would have happened to us. "It's experience and we've got to take that with us and move on for next year." Canadian-born Aird ensured Rangers brought down the curtain on the season with a win, while Berwick were able to seal a play-off spot despite the defeat. It will be a few years before the teenager is able to savour the Champions League experience with Rangers but he likened yesterday's title party in front of more than 50,000 fans to a top European night. He said: "It was a brilliant experience for the boys playing in front of an absolutely sold out Ibrox. "It felt like a Champions League night out there to be honest. "Scoring my first goal at Ibrox means a lot to me and scoring it on such a big day means even more." He added: "My family who are over here were at the game and the rest of my family back home would have been watching it. "The Toronto No1 Supporters Club put on a big breakfast so I'm sure there were a number of folk over there watching and supporting me so I'm delighted." Doubts were cast over whether Rangers would even be in a position to play football this season after being consigned to liquidation following several months being run by administrators. And, amid all the celebrations yesterday, Aird admitted there was one overriding emotion. He said: "It is just a big relief, a big weight has been lifted off our shoulders. "We won the league a couple of weeks ago but finally getting the trophy means a lot and those medals mean a lot to the boys. "It's the first championship for a lot of us and hopefully there is a lot more to come in the future."

Source: team_talk