I wish I'd never quit Queens for Gretna spell, admits Andy Aitken

Aug 31 2008 By Gordon Waddell

ANDY AITKEN watched Shaun Maloney pour 18 months of regret out when he returned to Celtic - and felt every ounce of it like it was his own.

The Queen of the South stopper chalked up another career milestone last week, taking his place on the bench for the agonising UEFA Cup exit to Danes Nordsjaelland.

But between the cup final run that took them into Europe and a testimonial year, Aitken says he's lucky to have seen any of it after leaving Palmerston for a spell at Gretna.

He said: "I joined Queens in 1996 and even the Scottish Cup Final was beyond my wildest dreams, far less Europe.

"We were mainly a part-time set-up then - I worked for a pipe fitting company then went back to college and got a good job with the local council.

"But when the chance to go to Gretna came around after eight years at the club the big question came up: Do you go for it or stay part-time?

"I went for it. Now I regret the decision, I regret it was to our local rivals, I regret it was a drop to the Third Division. I soured my relationship with the fans then didn't have the same rapport when I came back.

"Look at Shaun Maloney. He's in the same situation. Away for 18 months, now look at the regret he's expressing about going away.

"We both experienced that feeling of not realising what you have until you walk away.

"But Gretna dangled the carrot - look at Stevie Tosh coming from the SPL and Davie Bingham from Inverness.

"It's easy to look back now and see where it all went wrong. I knew after a few weeks it wasn't right for me.

"I had just 18 months there and thankfully Iain Scott took me back to Palmerston.

"Then when I came back I had a cruciate injury so it feels like I've wasted three years.

"But then if I don't come back, I don't get the cup final, don't get the European experience and don't get the testimonial year which has been great."

The only way Aitken reckons he can top the last 12 months is by staying in the mix for a Division One medal.

He said: "It's not about seeing last year as the pinnacle."