Kelso suffered a blow in the build-up to their Tennent's Velvet Premiership first division play-off with Heriot's FP at Pennypit Park tomorrow when Iain Fairley withdrew from their side.
Club president Ronnie Fleming said: ''It was Iain's decision to withdraw.''
Fairley was expected to captain the side in the absence of Adam Roxburgh, who was instructed by Scotland's Australian tour management not to take part in the play-off. Vice-captain Graeme Aitchison has missed most of the season due to injury and Fairley has regularly led the side.
Losing a second influential player at such short notice can have a demoralising effect on the team. Fairley was allowed by the Scotland selectors to make his own decision on whether to face Heriot's and initially indicated that he would play, which has heightened the sense of disappointment at the club.
The club thought that they had got last Saturday's Scottish Cup final defeat by Glasgow Hawks out of their system after having returned to Poynder Park on Saturday to a reception that was in sharp contrast to the one received by the Hawks.
This is Kelso's biggest match of the season - more important than the cup final last Saturday since it represents a one-off chance to be part of next season's top division. As Fleming said: ''In many ways our involvement in the cup final was like the jam coming before the bread and butter.''
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