Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Title favourite tag ignored by Greig
Gartcairn boss takes no notice of bookies
Davie Greig has laughed off Gartcairn’s tag as title favourites ahead of the big kick-off in their Central District Second Division campaign.
Cairn have been tipped by the bookies to secure the title this term, however boss Greig admits he isn’t sure where the label has come from.
Following a seventh place finish last season, Greig doesn’t believe that his side should be putting additional pressure on themselves this early in the campaign.
He told the Advertiser: “I sometimes wonder where they get their odds from!
“The boys have been playing well this season, and we are encouraged by that obviously.
“We are looking up; definitely. But title favourites for a club who finished seventh in a tough league seems a bit much,” he laughs.
They travel to face Royal Albert on the opening day of the season, and after they have strengthened he expects them to be battling at the top end of the table.
He also believes the likes of Vale of Clyde, Bellshill and Johnstone Burgh will be fighting for promotion after relegation last season.
The gaffer said: “I believe it’s going to be an even tougher campaign than last season.
“You look at the teams who have come down from the league above, they will be up there again.
“Royal Albert will be a tough place to go this season. They have built a really good squad that will be competing up the top end.
“The likes of ourselves, Carluke and Lanark will all be hoping to be around the top three again.
“All of us will be looking to go one further, but it will be really tough league again this year.”
Before they start the season, the MTC Park men will make a bid to reach the quarter-final stage of the Central Sectional League Cup.
A win over Newmains at home would see them reach the next round, having enjoyed a convincing 3- 0 win over Carluke at the weekend.
He said a win over Newmains would set them up perfectly for the start of the season.
“It’s been a positive cup run for us, and we want to go that little bit further if we can.
“We deserved the win against Carluke. It was three, and could have been four or five on another day.”
He continued: “It’s a great chance to make it through in the cup.
“We know Newmains well from last season and it’s a home game, so we have to back ourselves.
“It would be a real boost for the boys to make it through before the start of the league campaign.”