Dennis praying for snow?
Shire boss hoping to dodge a gubbing
IF EAST Stirlingshire avoid defeat in Peterhead on Monday will Dennis Newall retain his Bell's manager of the month award?
Maybe the Firs Park boss should pray for snow. Shire are unbeaten in December – they've only played one game – but that record will be tested against the title chasers.
Newall is just hoping Christmas excesses don't hamper his chances.
He said: "We need to make sure we're not going up there with the festive spirits still in us. We'll be in training on Sunday just to make sure. We can go up there with optimism as our last two games against them have been close.
"We've had two Saturday's without a game which might affect us. But if we can get four points from the three games coming up it might just take us off the bottom of the league."
Graham McGhee and Jamie MacKay are carrying minor knocks while a late decision will have to be taken on Ross Donaldson's fitness.
The calling off of last Saturday's game at Montrose stirred a bee in Newall's bonnet. He is a big advocate of summer football and, ideally, a season running from March to November.
He said: "Now we'll have to play Montrose in a midweek and our guys will need to take a half day from work. It's also an extra expense and doesn't lend itself to good football. I struggle to understand why people can't see the benefits of summer football.
"The authorities should at least give it a try in the lower divisions to see how it affects crowds and revenue. I also think it would improve the standard of football and the quality of the parks as well as reducing expenses."
Meanwhile, Newall escaped with a warning after coming to the SFA's attention for calling a referee a "little Hitler" and being sent off against Peterhead.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Falkirk
Saturday 25 May 2013
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 7 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 10 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: South west
