Vics optimistic on return to the field
Blantyre Victoria boss John Gibson is increasingly optimistic that the West of Scotland League will return this season.
The WOSFL has been suspended since January but league chairman Dave Mckenna revealed that the successful vaccine rollout provides a glimmer of hope over a return.
Gibson has been buoyed by Mckenna’s words, adding: “I was quite positive about returning which gives me hope because it’s what we all want.
“I’m unsure if he’s had any indication but the weather will improve as we enter spring.”
“Even if it’s just six games then it’s better than nothing. We’ve been in this predicament since January now and if there’s no games till July then that’s six months with nothing.
“It would give us a platform to build for next season. We should try to get in as many games as possible as it gets boys back playing.”
If the season was to restart then players would require time to train before returning to competitive action to rediscover full fitness.
There has been debate over how long this period should be but Gibson believes players will need at least a fortnight.
He said: “I think that players need at least a couple of weeks. It will allow them to build some sort of fitness before the games start.
“If it’s just going to be six games then I’d say three weeks.
“But if they are going to try to squeeze more games in then I’d be happy with less training time. I don’t think there should be any friendlies.”
Gibson remains in constant dialogue with his players to check up on their mental wellbeing during the suspension,
He said: “I’ve spoken before about the mental health aspect of not playing.
“I always try to get the boys on the phone, rather than text them, so I check up on them.
“I ask them if they’ve got any problems or issues. I’ve been lucky because none of my boys have been furloughed so they’ve all been keeping busy.”
Hamilton boss Brian Rice says his players are ready to run through a brick wall for the cause after their derby demolition of Motherwell.
Bruce Anderson’s first goal for the club was added to by a Ross Callachan penalty and a Marios Ogkmpoe strike, with David Moyo adding a fourth in the second half.
Mark O’hara pulled a goal back for the hosts, who were reduced to 10 men at 1-0 as Stephen O’donnell was shown a straight red card for a foul on Callachan in the box..
Rice said: “The way we played is how we train, everybody at it all the time, because I don’t allow them to slacken.
“They’re giving me everything, they’re giving the club everything.
“I have a group of boys in there who will run through a brick wall for the red and white top.
“I can’t ask for any more than that. “I’m disappointed to lose a goal, I don’t think we deserved to lose a goal, but I couldn’t ask any more from the boys.”
Rice is the first Hamilton boss to have steered his side to three consecutive league wins over Motherwell since 1912.
That was a third derby win for Rice’s side this season, and they’re now unbeaten in the fixture going back to August 2019.
The performance came off the back of a morale-boosting and vital 1-1 draw with Rangers the previous week.
And Rice added: “My boys know what it’s going to take for us to stay in this league, and it’s going to take performances like that.
“Hopefully, that’s just the start of things to come.
“I don’t know what it is about the derby.
“Personally, I love coming here to Motherwell. I loved coming here as a player, I love coming here to watch Motherwell play, I think it’s a brilliant place to play football.
“I don’t know what it is about a derby, my boys are up for it, but they’re up for it most weeks.
“It was a challenge; the first game after playing the Old Firm is always a worry, it always has been for me, right through the years, because you get all these pats on the back and plaudits when you do well and it sometimes affects you.
“It doesn’t affect me, because I know what’s at stake, and the players know what’s at stake. I think you see that in the performance.
“I challenged them to try and reproduce what they produced last Sunday, and to have a go, to go two up top and have a go, and I think they responded magnificently.”
The recent results have been a real shot in the arm for Accies’ survival bid, but it hasn’t surprised defender Lee Hodson.
The former Rangers player reckons the draw against his old side and now a derby win are no more than the side deserve.
He said: “I think we’ve proved against Rangers, who are currently the leaders of the league, that we can do it against anyone, and that has given us massive confidence to go out and prove everyone wrong.
“I know everyone’s writing us off week in week out, writing us off that we’re going to go down right from the start of the season, so I think that gives us fire in our belly to prove everyone wrong.
“We just need to carry this run on, keep believing, keep being consistent and climb the league.
“The games we’ve got left are all cup finals for us now and we’re ready and raring to go, and to prove a point.”