Rovers return but Evans loan move is off

Two sets of clues – but the answers are the same.

before you can join up with the training squad.

“If I got a call from a player on a Sunday that wanted to come in on the Monday then it wouldn’t be possible but we fully understand the situation.”

Albion Rovers underwent their first round of Covid testing on Saturday ahead of their return to training on Monday night.

Although Reid is thrilled to be back, he admits it’s far from ideal that no clarity has been provided on how the league will finish. Clubs want an 22-game season with a‘split’but the

SPFL would prefer an 18-game term and a final decision on the make-up of the remainder of the season is yet to be confirmed.

Reid said:“everybody is looking forward to returning because our last training session was on January 9.

“It’s longer than the close season but it has been a very difficult season for managers, players and supporters.

“Even though we are starting back, we still don’t know the fixtures or when we are playing but we just need to prepare the players normally. It’ll be a short preparation, so we need to get players used to the ball straight away.”

Cryptic clues ACROSS

1 Staple changed colour (6)

4 Criticises cooking vessels (4)

7 Cold dice are thrown (4)

8 Keep marine working (6)

9 At what time will wife meet bride? (4)

10 Pleased with simplicity (4)

12 Peer in real trouble (4)

14 Growling about argument (3)

16 Removal includes eggs (3)

17 Aide made strange impression (4)

20 Prudence gets discourteous (4)

23 Merit of learning (4)

24 Irritate at the plant (6)

25 Does translate some verses (4)

26 Register changes a lot (4)

27 Come out east and join (6)

DOWN

1 Rupee spent on mash (5) 2 Not different from this America (4)

3 Band right for ship (5) 4 Pressure points in seats (4) 5 Stick notice to this place (6) 6 Wines mixed as source of strength (5)

11 Beer gets nothing from plant (4)

13 Sharp as a group of detectives (4)

15 Copy a bird (6)

16 Last character round to play game (5) 18 Needs new compact (5) 19 Round bees, terribly fat (5) 21 Loosen at a French party (4) 22 Most arguments are about celebrity (4)

Quick clues ACROSS

1 Crayon (6)

4 Pots (4)

7 Chilled (4)

8 Stay (6)

9 Question word (4)

10 Relax (4)

12 Aristocrat (4)

14 Quarrel (3)

16 Egg cells (3)

17 Notion (4)

20 Impolite (4)

23 Deserve (4)

24 Stinging weed (6)

25 Poems (4)

26 Singing voice (4)

27 Appear (6)

DOWN

1 Liquidised fruit (5) 2 Identical (4) 3 Passenger vessel (5) 4 Church furniture (4) 5 Cling (6)

6 Tendon (5)

11 Soothing succulent (4) 13 Corrosive substance (4) 15 Macaw (6)

16 Greek letter (5) 18 Thick (5)

19 Overweight (5) 21 Reverse (4)

22 Sun (4)