Airdrie fight for survival: Ryan McCann looking for a club after joining players' scrapheap
RYAN McCANN is one of Scottish football's growing army of nomads after being freed by Airdrie reports the Daily Record.
But age and experience has taught the much travelled midfielder to see the scrapheap as a challenge.
He's 28, effectively unemployed and has a mortgage to pay, but his spirit is strong enough to make him want to go on and find a new club because football's his life.
McCann said: "I went straight from school to Celtic as a full-time player. I was there for five years and it was my decision to leave the club.
"I still had two years left on my contract and I enjoyed working with Willie McStay as my coach but Celtic's a hard team to break into."
Since then McCann has been at Hartlepool, St Johnstone, Clyde, Morecambe and Queen of the South.
He refuses to believe relegated Airdrie will be the last club on his CV.
He said: "This isn't just a problem for teams in the lower leagues.
"I read Mark McGhee talking about the possibility of letting players go from Aberdeen then bringing them back for the start of next season.
"You'd have to be naive to think Scottish football would fail to be affected by the economic downturn.
"I left Airdrie knowing I had to look after myself. I'll call clubs to look for training facilities and ask for a trial if that's what it takes. I enjoy my career and want it to continue."
Airdrie could re-hire him when the club finds itself in a position to take on players for next season.
McCann added: "I'm going to trust in one thing I've come to believe - 50 per cent of what happens to you in this game is down to luck.
"I was badly injured when I left St Johnstone but I was given a chance at Clyde by Joe Miller and had one of the happiest years of my life.
"Then I landed at Queen of the South and ended up playing against Rangers in the Scottish Cup Final. Now I'm looking for my next platform."