The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Loan ace Dowds loving life with league leaders
Arbroath marksman Anton Dowds hopes to receive clarity regarding his future this week. Dowds, 25, is thriving on loan from Falkirk, notching four goals in his five outings for the Championship leaders.
The former East Fife star played a part in all three goals as the Lichties comprehensively swept aside Dunfermline on Boxing Day.
However, uncertainty persists about whether Dowds will remain at Gayfield for the rest of the season.
The Bairns are under the new management of Martin Rennie and, despite talks last week, no final decision was reached.
Dowds, tacitly keen to stay at Arbroath, expects that call to be made imminently. “I spoke with the Falkirk manager last week,” said Dowds.
“It’s a case of trying to sort something out with Falkirk. They have a new manager and are still assessing their own situation.
“He (Rennie) hasn’t really had the chance to evaluate what he’s got – he’s been thrown straight into match preparation – but I’d hope for an answer this week in terms of what the situation is going forward.
“I need to respect Falkirk. They are my parent club.
“However, I’ve made it clear that I’m loving my time at Arbroath and, if I do go back to Falkirk, I need to be playing and enjoying my football, because that’s definitely the case at Arbroath. Long may that continue.”
Currently enjoying an 11game unbeaten run and three points clear at the summit of the Championship, the Lichties are emerging as genuine title contenders.
And their recent victories over Morton and the Pars have been all the more impressive given a host of Covid-related absences – including manager Dick Campbell.
“That’s just testament to the squad the gaffer has put together,” said Dowds.
“We all know our roles and what is expected of each player.
“It’s a case of making sure that, when you get the jersey, you do what is expected of you.
“Top of the league is a nice place to be – and exactly where you want to be – but we keep our heads down and keep doing the right things. We are still the part-time team.
“But we are enjoying the situation and the whole experience. It’s just about continuing the momentum.”
Meanwhile, Arbroath’s game against Hamilton tonight has been postponed, it has been confirmed.
The Accies applied to the SPFL for the call-off after Covid and injuries ravaged the squad.
That application has been accepted and a new date for the clash will be announced in due course.
A spokesman for the SPFL said: “After reviewing the information provided by Hamilton Academical, their cinch Championship match away to Arbroath has been postponed.”
SPFL rules state that fixtures must go ahead as long as Covid-affected teams have 13 eligible players, including one goalkeeper, and as long as 10 of those players are over 18. Accies chairman Allan Maitland said prior to the call-off: “We have so many people out it’s unbelievable.
“We have three injuries from Sunday, and you saw how weak the team was on Sunday. Ronan Hughes, Miko (Virtanen) and Matty Shiels are out, and that was already a weakened team.”
The postponement means Arbroath have played their final game of 2021 and will end the year at the top of the table.
The Lichties’ next game will be on Sunday in a topof-the-table clash with second place Inverness.
The club apologised to supporters who had been successful in the ticket ballot for the Hamilton game, adding: “We are truly sorry for any inconveniences, unfortunately this situation is out of our control.”