STILL GAME
Two senior heads set for a round of summit special
GAYFIELD hospitality will be busier than The Clansman on quiz night with Raith Rovers desperate to eat into Arbroath’s cushion instead of one of Boaby’s pies.
But Stark’s Park boss John McGlynn insists the top-of-thetable clash with dugout rival Dick Campbell won’t decide who takes home the puggy jackpot.
With a combined age of 122 years and CVs even Isa couldn’t keep schtum about, the pair are proof management doesn’t have to be a young man’s game.
Two of the SPFL’s three most senior bosses – only Jim Duffy at Dumbarton is in between them – are kicking up a storm in League One.
Despite the unbeaten Red Lichties leading by 13 points at the summit, McGlynn doesn’t deem the clash a win-orbust affair.
The 57-year-old said: “It is a great game to look forward to. There is a gap but it is first versus second on a day when the top four all face each other so it is exciting.
“We have won four out of our last five games and are in good form. This game is not going to decide anything but we do want to close the gap.
“We are getting stronger in every game so we are looking forward to going to Gayfield and seeing what we can do. Dick has been around at a few clubs with his time at Brechin, Ross County, Partick Thistle, Forfar and now Arbroath, however we have not faced each other that often.
“There were a few games when he was at Thistle and I was at Raith the first time then the 1-1 draw between us earlier this season. I have 10 years to go before I reach retirement age so like Dick I aim to still be looking after a team at 65.
“He has built a terrific side at Arbroath, however someone has to beat them and end their unbeaten run.
“Someone needs to step up to the plate and take responsibility for getting a win against them and hopefully that will be us.”
Arbroath are on an eightgame winning streak in the league, with a Scottish Cup third-round exit to Stranraer their only defeat in two months.
And Campbell knows McGlynn won’t make clocking up win No.9 easy.
The 65-year-old said: “Experience brings you respect from your players and John has that at Raith. I admire him for leaving a good job scouting with Celtic to return to the coalface.
“He could have stayed in easy street, however he opted to get back involved right at the sharp end. He deserves respect for that, however I do not want him enjoying this game.
“We are on a fabulous run and we want to add another win to that. There will be a big crowd at Gayfield and our hospitality will be packed. We want our fans to go into Christmas with a smile on their faces.”
The Arbroath boss will not be crowing about the title being won even if his side succeeds as he added: “On day one we said Raith held the advantage as they are a full-time side but that is all I will say about them.
“I am more interested in what Arbroath will do. I am not going to get dragged into the mind games of what could happen.
“I am simply looking for my team to keep doing what they have been doing.”
Someone has to beat Arbroath and end their unbeaten run JOHN McGLYNN