Manager may have to play as sub in last game in charge

Lovat manager Fraser Gallacher brings down the curtain on his three-year reign as team boss after tomorrow’s Premiership game against Oban Camanachd at Kiltarlity.

It is the Black and Whites’ final fixture of the season and Gallacher, with five regulars out, is having to list himself as a substitute for a game that’s been switched to a 12.30pm start at Oban’s request.

Gallacher, who steered Lovat to two Camanachd Cup finals, and runnersup spot in last season’s Premiership, is bowing out as his partner is due to have a baby in January.

International defender Callum Cruden is away at the Rugby World Cup, Danny Kelly has a commitment in Glasgow, and Lorne MacKay, Calum Macaulay and their wives have booked a London weekend. In addition, attacker Marc MacLachlan is out through suspension.

Gallacher said: “It’s been a long wait to get our fixtures finished, having played on August 24 then September 21 before cooling our heels for the last one.

“Player availability has been a persistent problem in my time and it’s made us unable to play the same team on any sort of consistent basis. Yet we won 2-0 at Kingussie in the league and I’m convinced if the players all managed full commitment, then we could be the best team in the Premiership.”

He added: “Being manager has taken up a huge amount of time but I’ve enjoyed working with a talented bunch of lads.”

Oban skipper Daniel Cameron will not figure as he completes a twogame suspension, while Aidan MacIntyre is again out injured, but Malcolm Clark may return after being unavailable last week.

Lovat are second top but Oban are three points behind with four games left and still in with a shout of finishing as champions if Kingussie hit the skids.

Fraser Gallacher