Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Rovers return but Evans loan is off
Two sets of clues, two different answers – all on the same grid. Choose one or the other.
Albion Rovers Brian Reid is delighted to see lower league football given the green light to return - but revealed a signing target has fallen by the wayside during the shutdown.
Grant Evans was set to join Rovers but that move has collapsed due to the 31 year-old’s work commitments and Reid insisted many players will face the same dilemma.
Although the lower leagues are back in training ahead of a March 20 return, Reid has revealed the difficulties facing part-time players.
It’s been an uncertain few months for clubs and players with no clarity over when football would restart.
And Reid said:“we’re going to lose Grant because he’s got to work. He’d signed from Pollok on-loan but unfortunately with his situation at work, he’s having to take weekend shifts.
“He’s had to cancel his contract due to his work commitments and I can’t blame the boy at all because I understand his predicament.
“He was all signed but because of everything that’s happened he has to work. I’ve found that to be common because players had no idea when football was returning and they have work commitments at this level.”
“Boys need to earn money so they’ve taken on more shifts at work. Everybody is in a precarious position because nobody wants to lose their jobs, people need to make a living.
“I can totally understand their situations and it’s probably an aspect of football at this level that people don’t see – it’s difficult for us.”
The SFA extended the loan market until the end of March to enable lower league clubs to bolster their squads.
They’ll also be able to sign free agents and Reid revealed that he expects a few new faces at Cliftonhill in the coming days.
He added“we have looked to bring a few players in. We are working on that at the moment and I’m expecting half a dozen players in over the coming week or so.
“It will be mainly loan deals plus one or two permanent deals.
“I’m including Matt Gallagher and Mark Sideserf who’d already arranged deals in January – so there are two good experienced players.
“We’ve another three experienced players that have agreed to sign and we will add another two loans because we lost Paul Allan back to Dunfermline.
“They all needed to be added to the testing list which complicates things. It’s not just like days of old when you can bring in trialists and have a look at them.you need a negative test
Quizword ACROSS
6 2006 BBC Sports Personality of the Year; wife of Mike Tindall since 2011 (4,8)
8 2010 film drama starring Kodi Smit-mcphee (3,2,2) 9 August —, German painter whose works include 1913’s Woman in a Green Jacket (5) 10 Roman emperor from 54-68 AD (4) 12 Emiliano —, leading figure of the Mexican Revolution who died in 1919 (6)
14 Young eel (5)
15 See 18 Down
16 Brazil footballer born Edson Arantes do Nascimento in 1940 (4) 19 2008 film thriller starring Liam Neeson and Maggie Grace (5)
21 Mammal also called
a spiny anteater (7)
22 Town in Nord, France, famous for its fine bobbin lace (12)
DOWN
1 The —, 2000 novel by John Grisham (8) 2 Ben —, 2009 Superbike World Championship winner (5)
3 A A —, creator of Winnie-the-pooh (5) 4 City in North Holland, Netherlands, noted for its cheese production and market (7) 5 2013 animated film featuring the voice talent of
Colin Farrell and
Josh Hutcherson (4) 6 WBO Bantamweight champion from 2017-2019 (6,4)
7 Rugby union wing; 1987 Wales Test debutant against France (5,5)
11 Ernie —, South
African golfer; 2002 and 2012 winner of The Open Championship (3) 12 Branch of Mahayana Buddhism stressing the role of meditation in pursuing enlightenment (3) 13 1978 Robert Altman comedy-drama film starring Carol Burnett and Paul Dooley (1,7) 14 Trio of avenging deities in Greek mythology comprising Alecto, Tisiphone and Megaera (7)
17 1971 film comedy starring Hywel Bennett and
Denholm Elliott (5)
18 and 15 Across
The —, operatic singing group that comprised Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo and
Jose Carreras (5,6)
20 Edmund —, English tragic actor who played Shylock at Drury Lane in 1814 (4)
Crossword
ACROSS
6 Planned in advance (12) 8 Lightweight anorak (7)
9 Long seat (5)
10 Mother’s sister (4)
12 One who
rides on waves (6)
14 Skinflint (5)
15 Foot part (6)
16 Eight furlongs (4)
19 Scottish
landowner (5)
21 TV aerial (7)
22 With all limbs
outstretched (12)
DOWN
1 Stretchy aerobics garment (8)
2 Thighbone (5)
3 School punishment (5) 4 Sheltered port (7) 5 Fronded plant (4)
6 Minor sin or fault (10) 7 Worker with supervisory duties (10) 11 Fruit seed (3)
12 Stitch (3)
13 Amiable (8)
14 Interfering person (7) 17 Touches down (5)
18 Vapour from hot water (5) 20 Little devils (4)