Caithness are primed for battle to avoid drop

Anderson believes his men can overcome sub-par start

Caithness team manager Garry Anderson is adamant his side still have time to avoid relegation to Caledonia 1.

The Greens had a turbulent start to the campaign, dogged by availability issues all season and twice being forced to forfeit fixtures.

Caithness parted company with head coach George Sutherland last month, with Anderson handed the responsibility of coordinating the first 15 until a new coach is found.

The Millbank outfit are in the National 3 relegation zone with just two points from seven games, with only Carrick below them a point further behind.

Anderson acknowledges morale is low ahead of tomorrow’s meeting against third-placed Berwick following six league losses out of seven, but he is adamant there is still time to turn it around.

He said: “We are hopeful we can start picking up points soon. Whether it’s this week or not, it might just be too big an ask.

“Berwick are third at the moment and going quite well, while on the flip side we are not going so well.

“We are a bit shy on personnel and we’re just trying to pick up the pieces after our coach left.”

He added: “Hopefully we can get the points as much as we can at home. With a couple of wins on the road, we should be OK I hope.”

Anderson is optimistic Caithness will have greater options to choose from following last weekend’s 69-7 loss to Hillhead Jordanhill, adding: “We have got a few guys back who didn’t travel last week. Kris Hamilton and Evan Sutherland are back, along with Grant Anderson from being offshore.

“We had a tricky run down the road, with a few late call-offs. We picked up a few of our south-based guys who filled the slots, but it wasn’t to be.”

Caithness president George Sinclair is hopeful of recruiting a new coaching team in the coming weeks, with Anderson, the father of Greens players Marc and Grant, aiming to steady the ship in the interim.

Anderson added: “I wasn’t involved at the start of the season, but after they sacked the coach they phoned me up to try and manage things, and work the budgets.

“I did it before for three years, but I was a bit busy with work and decided to take a year out – although I didn’t even get a year.”

“I was quite happy to ruck up and try and help out, and I will continue to when they get a new coach.

“The committee are looking at various avenues for a new coaching team.”