The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Campbell promises wholesale changes
Arbroath boss Dick Campbell is set to make wholesale changes to his team for this afternoon’s Championship clash against Dundee at Dens.
The Gayfield gaffer has by and large stuck with the same starting line-up this season.
However, some of those players are now set to pay the price for last weekend’s defeat at home to Ayr United with Arbroath conceding three goals in an opening 27-minute blitz from the Honest Men.
That result and display was unacceptable to Campbell and he insists changes are necessary if for no other reason than to be fair to the rest of the squad who have waited patiently for their chance.
The manager insists though that no matter who ultimately wins the nod, his team will be going to Dens determined to return to winning ways.
Campbell said: “We were really poor last week. With that in mind, I was really angry although I do not want to take anything away from Ayr United.
“They were magnificent but I am not accepting that performance from my players.
“There will be six or seven changes for the Dundee game. I will not be mucking about.
“There is very little between the players in my squad in terms of ability and I just need to be fair to everybody.
“We are now at the start of October and I have stuck by the same players every week but as I said, I have to be fair to everybody.
“But no matter what team I put out at Dens, they will give a really good account of themselves, I can assure you of that.”
Campbell added: “At the end of the day, I have a strong squad.
“People may think because we are Arbroath and part-time that we don’t, but we will see.
“In terms of Dundee, they and Dundee United are the two big favourites for the league but we will go there and have a real go as always.”
Some of the doubters who thought Arbroath would struggle in the Championship have already been proved wrong with the Gayfield side having eight points to their name already.
However, Campbell insists there is absolutely no room for complacency.
He added: “It has been a decent start but two weeks ago we were playing Dundee United and we were a minute away from three points and going third.
“Instead, we came away with nothing and then last week we lost three points again and we are now just three points off bottom.
“That shows how quickly it can change. So no one will be resting on their laurels, that’s for sure.”
Arbroath’s Scott Stewart returned to training this week but the Dundee game comes too early for him, while Gavin Swankie will also miss out with the veteran scheduled to have a groin operation on Thursday.