Spartans next up for Shire after Kelty Hearts clash postponed

Shire gaffer Derek Ure expects a tough game this Saturday against The Spartans (Pic: Lisa Ferguson)

Games are being postponed across the country due to frozen or waterlogged pitches and Shire’s trip to Kelty Hearts on Tuesday night became one of the latest casualties to the Scottish winter.

It will mean a backlog of fixtures that need to be rearranged for Shire but Ure says that problem is not specific to them and that they just need to deal with it as best they can.

He said: “It's something that will be the same for every team.

"When you look at a lot of leagues it's par for the course now and we just need to try and deal with it as best as we possibly can, plenty of other teams will be in a similar or worse position.”

Weather permitting they are due back in action with an away game at The Spartans this Saturday in the Lowland League.

"Spartans will be a very difficult game,” said Ure.

"They've already shown this season how good a team they can be, they show every year how good they are.

"It will be a challenge and we need to make sure we're up for it, we’ve got to have the mentality that we have to prepare correctly for every game and not just the bigger ones and Spartans for me is a big game.

"They’re a good club with a good pedigree, staff and players but I'm sure if we apply ourselves well do okay in that game.”

Meanwhile, Ure may very well have some recruitment work to do with young striker Dean Watson being recalled from his loan by parent club Partick Thistle.

Andy Rodgers having also left the club means they are down to strikers but Ure is comfortable with the options he still has available.

"At this moment in time we have got three recognised players who can play as strikers.

"I will say the same thing I have always said, If the right person becomes available in a certain position we will look at it and try and get a deal done.

"Moving forward, we know the areas where we'd like to add one or two so we will see what happens.

"Deano is a fantastic player and I've no doubt he will do very well wherever he goes on to play his football, he's a good player and we wish him every success.”