Club Statement

The Forfar Athletic Directors are delighted to announce just hours before kick-off in our last league game of the season that Gary Irvine has been appointed to the managerial role with the ‘Loons.’

All involved behind the scenes at Station Park have been impressed with the manner in which Gary has steadied the ‘ship’ in his caretaker or interim role in charge over the last four weeks and despite the fact that we were unable to avoid the drop down a division, the unanimous decision of the Board after the interview process was completed was that Gary was the man to take the reins with immediate effect.

He is currently engaged in undertaking his SFA coaching badges and will announce his backroom team shortly.

He will obviously also, come the final whistle in tonight’s fixture with East Fife begin discussions with the out of contract players within the Athies squad in regard to their future and begin to put in place arrangements for pre-season training, the 2021/2 campaign due to commence on the second weekend in July.

The 36-year-old defender or midfield player who joined the ‘Loons’ in February of 2019 will obviously also have to make a decision on his own playing future.

His senior playing career began with Celtic back in 2006, a spell on loan at Ross County part of his ‘education’ while at Parkhead.

Four seasons at St. Johnstone followed, before a six-year stint at Dundee, St. Mirren his next ‘port of call’ before his move to Station Park.

Undoubtedly Gary’s first ambition will be to see the ‘Loons’ complete their campaign with a third straight victory before the real hard work will commence.

We are sure all  Forfar Athletic supporters will wish him well and we hope that those same fans will be on the terracing and in the stand, in other words back where they belong, come the start of next season.