GreggyvowsMeddawillmarchon
‘We owe it to our fans and the other teams to compete’
IRVINE MEADOW boss Davie Greig was left devastated when the road to salvation was closed for the fallen Ayrshire giants on Monday.
Any lingering hopes of Medda avoiding the drop into the Super First Division were finally killed off by their succumbing to a 3-2 defeat against fellow basement battlers Shettleston that also boosted the Glasgow side’s own chances of clinging onto their top-flight status.
This latest league loss, their 14th from 18 starts, has Greggy and his playing charges now facing up to being officially relegated with six fixtures still to fulfil, but ahead of taking to the road to face Hurlford tonight, he was defiantly insisting his side’s remaining league games are anything but meaningless.
Said the seasoned gaffer, “Nobody is more disappointed than myself that it hasn’t happened for us in terms of results but we owe it to the rank and file Irvine Meadow supporters to go out and give our best for them in every game we play. And, yes, our fate may be sealed, but to down tools at this stage would be unprofessional and a slap in the face to all the teams involved in the title and relegation contests, so we have to concentrate on serving up a decent performance to try and restore a bit of pride.”
His selection thoughts are seriously disadvantaged for the visit to Blair Park by a lengthy injury list which threatens to rule out as many as eight regulars
Greggy revealed: “Graham Girvan , Chris Wilson, Kevin Rutkiewicz, Jordan Murch, Liam Finnigan and Ross McPherson are looking definite non-starters, while Paul Maxwell is rated no better than 50-50 and we have to wait and see the condition of Ryan Deas, who was a late call-off before the Shettleston game after taking unwell.
“This crippling run of injuries has not helped our cause in recent games and what sticks in the teeth most is the manner of Monday night’s defeat, which was so typical of how playing matters have gone against us this season.
“This failure to see games out is a major factor in why we are going down.”
Greggy and his players can expect no sympathy from a Hurlford side driven by their desire to close the current eight-point gap existing between themselves and tabletopping Auchinleck Talbot.
Meanwhile, the champagne will be on ice tonight for two clubs seeking to be crowned the first McBookie.com league title winners of the 2015/16 Junior season.
Renfrew will be Central First Division champions if they can emerge victorious from their trip to the Garngad to face a St Rochs side boosted by the return from suspension of midfield driving force John Sweeney for their final league game of the season.
And the remote Junior outpost of Kingshill Park will have Forth Wanderers assured of the Central Second Division honours if they come out on top when hosting the visit of promotion hopefuls Lanark.
Home team followers may be biting fingernails at the prospect seeing as Forth have failed to get the better of the Yowes in two previous encounters this season.