Vics boss praises league split
Blantyre Vics boss John Gibson has hailed the decision to split the West of Scotland League Premier Division into two sections, and says it’s the best chance of completing the season.
Two groups of 10 teams playing each other twice and then the others in Group 2 once will give 28 fixtures.
If push comes to shove, they could end it at 18 and see where everybody is, claims Gibson.
The gaffer doesn’t believe the league season was ever going to reach 38 games this term.
Gibson admits he’s just happy to be in the top league at all, but concedes that the new plan – which puts Vics in with Auchinleck Talbot, Benburb, Bonnyton Thistle, Clydeank, Glenafton, Irvine Meadow, Kilbirnie Ladeside, Kirkintilloch Rob Roy and Largs Thistle – gives them a decent chance.
He said: “I’m quite happy, and it didn’t matter what ten you ended up in, it was going to be a hard one!
“I must admit I’m just glad to be in it, and we’ve got two big Ayrshire sides in Auchinleck and Glenafton, Clydebank, Largs did well – there are no easy ones in that top league but it might have fell for us, because that other one has Kilwinning, Beith, Pollok, so it’s quite strong.
“Ours is as well, and it didn’t matter what ten you were in, but I’m happy with the 10 that we have.
“I think it’s a sensible idea, it puts us down to 28 games, it would just be good to get started, now, and it’s definitely more manageable.
“If you don’t get the 28 games in it might be that they just have to go with the two leagues, and whoever finishes in the bottom four of each group might go down and they just have to play the 18 games, you never know.
“It is a sensible idea, and they’ve obviously thought about it.
“I’m just pleased to be in the top league in the first place. Going into two probably makes it a wee bit easier, but we’re just happy anyway to be in it.”
Vics have prepared for the new season with a 3-0 win over East Kilbride Thistle and a 5-1 hammering of Lanark United, and Gibson has been pleased with what he saw.
Games against East Kilbride, Forth Wanderers and Cumbernauld Colts will complete their programme, and he said: “I’ve been pleased with the opposition.
“I always try to get good opposition and we have two good Lowland League