NO 1 FOR JUNIORS McInally rages at the beaks as Evans is put under Lok and key...
THIS might be the season of goodwill to all men but none of it seems to be coming the way of Pollok boss Tony McInally and his players.
He was scathing yesterday in his condemnation of West Region officials doubling the suspension on Lok playing ace Grant Evans to four games after adjudging the full back had lodged a “frivolous appeal” against his recent red-carding by referee Calum Scott during a 1-1 draw with Kilbirnie Ladeside.
And a seething Macca reckons the beaks need to get real if they truly believe he needed former Dunfermline signing Evans to play against Scottish Junior Cup opponents Glasgow Perthshire rather than allow him to serve out the automatic two-match ban incurred by his alleged Serious Foul Play offence.
The Lok boss insisted: “First and foremost this ruling is very unfair on Grant, who was more sinned against than a sinner in the Kilbirnie incident and I feel pig sick for the lad who has now landed a ban likely to keep him sidelined until February time and all because he felt there was a legitimate case to put forward.
“He went the extra mile in bringing video evidence to to support his claims of innocence to the disciplinary committee however that was deemed to be inconclusive but what I cannot comprehend is why at that point it was not simply a case of his appeal being turned down and the two-game ban reinstated.”
“To add salt to the wounds by doubling his punishment and then try to justify it by claiming he only appealed because the two games he played in the intervening period were important Scottish Cup ties is ill-founded at best and a slap in the face for everyone connected with Pollok football club.
“No disrespect intended to Billy Adams and his Shire players who gave us a real fright in the Scottish but do the powers-thatbe really think I was worried that my Newlandsfiled dressing room did not have sufficient strength in depth to win a Cup tie against a team from two divisions lower down the pecking order?
“One of the game’s outstanding defenders of recent years – Martin McGoldrick – wasn’t even stripped at Keppoch Park and we had another defensive rock in our team captain Paul Gallagher occupying a place on the bench for the replay.
“We did play Grant in both games but he could just as easily have been left at the side of the park without weakening our line –up to any great extent so this “frivolous” allegation in tandem with the inference that Pollok were playing the system is nothing short of insulting and it is not difficult to understand why factions of our support are voicing concerns about a perceived agenda against their football club.” Trying to change the subject to tomorrow’s vital Super Premier Division match at home to second top of the table Kilwinning Rangers did not strike a chord with the clearly unhappy Lok gaffer.
HE RESPONDED: “I have always put myself forward to talk up the Juniors and of course the product on offer but why should I bother when players like Grant are treated with such unbelievable disdain.
“I don’t want to be heard enthusing over matches when deep down I believe the very core of the game is beset with problems.”
The Newlandsfield showdown does not lack for intrigue with former Pollok fans favourites Carlo Monti, David Winters and Findlay Frye returning to former pastures on top of Buffs skipper Craig Pettigrew and preparing to lock horns with ex-Auchinleck Talbot team-mates McGoldrick and Bryan Young.
Visiting boss Chris Strain enthused: “Our other ex-Talbot player James Latta was also looking forward to going up against Goldie and Youngy but he is suspended for his sending off in our last game against Arthurlie.
“On the bright side Ryan Nisbet looks to be fit again following a muscle strain.”