The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
MacLeod stands down as Skye manager
Robinson ruled out as Mackintosh’s men close in on league title
Midfield power player Jamie Robinson is out of Camanachd Cup winners Newtonmore’s line-up for tomorrow’s final home Premiership game of the season as the Blue and Whites bid for a trophy treble.
Victory against Oban Camanachd at the Eilan would clinch the championship and would mean the pressure would be off next weekend’s visit to challengers Kyles Athletic.
Manager Paul John Mackintosh said: “Jamie Robinson has hamstring trouble and will be missing.
“Michael Russell took a couple of hefty tackles in the Camanachd final and is very doubtful.
“We also have a couple of other players nursing injuries but we’ll keep their Skye, with four games to save themselves from relegation from the Premiership, have lost the services of John MacLeod, who has stepped down as manager.
The paramedic, who came in this year for his second spell in charge after Willie Cowie’s resignation, has increasing commitments but is believed to be disillusioned with the lack of commitment shown by some players in making themselves available for recent games.
For tomorrow’s game at Lovat, and for the remaining fixtures, his assistants ‘Digg’ Macdonald and Iain Macleod will take charge of the islanders, who are four points adrift of Caberfeidh.
Lovat attacker Marc MacLachlan will miss their final two games of the Premiership season after dislocating his knee in last week’s Camanachd Cup final.
Manager Fraser Gallacher said: “He is in a walking splint from his shin to his hip. It is tough luck on the lad.”
Midfield player Lorne MacKay is out of tomorrow’s match with Skye at Kiltarlity as he begins a two-match suspension, while attacker Lewis Tawse is on honeymoon.
Relegated Glen Urquhart, meanwhile, conclude their season with an away trip to Kyles Athletic which is Glen’s last chance to register a league victory.
Kyles, still in with a title chance if Newtonmore slip up, will not be in merciful mood and fit-again Roddy Macdonald will test the Drumnadrochit defence.
Savio Genini returns for suspension for Kingussie’s visit to deposed champions Kinlochshiel, who have suffered three defeats in their last seven games. These teams have not met in the league this season and now meet in back-to-back fixtures.