BOSS WILL MAKE TOUGH CALLS

Deveronvale manager Craig Stewart says he won’t shirk big decisions in the quest to steer clear of relegation danger.

The Banffers host Strathspey Thistle at Princess Royal Park on Saturday in the Breedon Highland League.

Victory would move Vale 10 points clear of the Grantown Jags, who are second bottom.

Stewart’s side picked up their first win since October 1 at Lossiemouth last weekend after he had rested a number of players for their midweek 9-1 loss to local rivals Buckie Thistle in Morrison Motors (Turriff ) Aberdeenshire Shield.

Some questioned that call, but with the threat of relegation via the play-offs a possibility for the side which finishes bottom, Stewart decided to prioritise.

He said: “I know more than anybody the importance of a local derby against Buckie and what it means to the supporters and the club.

“If we’d been beaten on Saturday I’d have accepted the questions, but the fact is we got the result and the decision paid off for us.

“People are entitled to their opinion but with the threat of relegation I decided to prioritise.

“If we’d lost at Lossiemouth followed by a defeat again this weekend the league table would look very different.

“Despite the win on Saturday there are people who don’t get it, I understand that but as a manager you have to make big decisions at times. You can say it was a weakened side against Buckie, but it was shuffling the pack and giving other boys an opportunity.

“Unfortunately they didn’t take that opportunity in a difficult game.

“This weekend’s game is as big as Lossiemouth on Saturday.

“It’s the difference between us opening up a gap on Strathspey or them closing the gap on us.

“We certainly don’t want to be losing this game and we’ll be going out to win it.

“We’d like to get on a wee run of winning games.”