AS first-division leaders St Johnstone, closely pursued by Partick
Thistle, travel far and wide today in search of more of the points that
have premier-division football marked all over them, third-placed
Airdrie and the pack must continue the chase.
And, as seems to be the only solution nowadays, the cheque books and
pens were poised yesterday as silver tongues tried to persuade old faces
to don new shirts in different pastures.
Following their defeat by Thistle at Firhill last week, Airdrie
decided that their defence needed to be shored up. The experienced
Stewart Auld of Clydebank moves to Broomfield, with the tidy sum of
#35,000 changing hands for the 31-year-old centre half. He goes into the
side against Alloa at Broomfield today, with young Derek Grant probably
being the one to step down. The Clackmannan side have injury problems
involving striker Mungo McCallum, John Gibson, and Steve Ramsay.
Clydebank, of course, quietly were fancied to be challenging at the
top. So far, it has not happened, and they also moved for a new player
yesterday -- surprise, surprise, from Airdrie.
And strictly speaking, the player is not all that new to Kilbowie.
Sammy Conn played for Bankies in the premier division, and last night,
he was mulling over a move back as a full-time player at Kilbowie. If he
goes, then a trip to Kirkcaldy to face Raith Rovers will be his first
duty back in the Bankies' strip. Defender John Maher, however, will be
missed after a nose operation.
The Starks Park club did not exactly get the cheque book out, but they
did manage to obtain the services of Dundee defender George McGeachie on
loan for a month. Probably the fact that central defender Sean Dennis is
out with a knee injury, Ronnie Coyle is suspended, and Stevie Simpson is
doubtful spurred manager Frank Connor into action.
Clyde, in the middle of a bad league run, yesterday were trying to
persuade Ayr United midfielder Jim Cowell to join their ranks, but
without a great deal of success. And with Billy Reid suspended after
having been ordered off last week, changes definitely are on the cards
for the Firhill match against Hamilton Accies. The Douglas Park side add
youngsters Pat Donaghy, Scott Archer, and Alan Prentice to their squad,
and manager Jim Dempsey promises two new faces and a couple of
positional changes.
Leaders St Johnstone will keep their successful formula for the visit
to a Meadowbank side who have drawn their last three matches, and always
are difficult to beat in Edinburgh.
Partick Thistle have injury doubts about Chic Charnley and Charlie
Adam for the trip to face Ayr United who are just beginning to reap the
benefits of full-time football, and who have a settled side which has
taken five points from their last three games.
Albion Rovers make the trip to Brockville to face Falkirk without
sweeper Robert Clark, who is suspended. The home side are still missing
the injured Stuart Burgess, Sam McGivern, and Jim Holmes.
Morton manager Allan McGraw was positively beaming as he announced for
the first time this season that he had everyone available for a home
match against bottom-of-the-table Forfar. And since this will be the
first game in charge for Forfar's new player-manager Bobby Glennie,
nothing can be taken for granted.
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