New boss Barry set for Coupar Angus

Mar 6 2009 by Our Correspondent, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

COUPAR Angus have appointed Barry Brittain as their manager. He takes over from Dave Martin and Derek Grier who were co-managers at Foxhall Park but have been appointed to similar posts with premier league club North End.

Dave Martin has already moved to North End, Derek Grier had however told Coupar that he would not leave until the new man was in place. At his interview Barry Britain informed Coupar that he would want to finish the season with his present club Dundee amateur side, Elmwood, before making the move to Foxhall Park. Coupar secretary John Stewart said “We were so impressed with Barry that we felt it was in the best interests of the club to appoint him. He intents to bring coaches Mike Bankin and Kevin Scott with him when he takes over.”

John went on to say: “This decision was made a whole lot easier by the fact that Derek Grier was prepared to stay with us until Barry Brittain was in place and we are indebted to Derek for this gesture.”

Barry had a wealth of experience in the Junior game as a player after which he had a stint as a coach with Forfar West End before joining Elmwood as their manager. Coupar meantime, have taken on former Kirrie Thistle and Blairgowrie stalwart Ross Graham as a coach to assist Derek Grier.

Tomorrow Coupar are engaged in the North League. They are away to Broughty who are the current league leaders. Derek Grier will await fitness tests on Simon Christie and Ali Townsley before deciding on a line up which could include a new signing. It’s a late selection from Coupar.

Jeanfield Swifts are at home to Lochgelly Albert in the Central League and they are the favourites to take the three points from the Riverside encounter.

Swifts boss Eddie O’Conner expects to have the same squad that performed so well in last week’s cup time with Kelty Hearts plus Mike Gow who was unavailable last week. The Swifts boss expects to have a squad of 16 available.

It’s not so many weeks ago that Lochgelly were up with the front runners in the championship race but they have slipped down into the lower half of the table. Their two most recent games were against Scone Thistle and Steelend Vics who are below them in the league table and they lost both those games.

Blairgowrie and Kinnoull are both engaged in the Premier League away from home. Blair are guests of Oakley who are fellow travellers at this point in time with Blair in the relegation zone. This is obviously a crucial game that both teams are desperately keen to take the points from and it certainly falls into the category of being classed as a six pointer.

Blair, after their excellent cup wins over the course of the last two weeks, are in a quite buoyant mood and the fact that manager Billy Mackay expects to have the same squad that did duty in those games is another plus for Blair in their quest to win these very valuable points.

Kinnoull are away to North End and if current form is any guide they are undoubtedly the favourites to come home with the points. Kinnoull are well into the top half of the table while North End are second from the bottom and are very much relegation candidates. The Dundee club are 10 points adrift of Kinnoull in the league table and it certainly would be a shock if they were to reduce this deficit at Kinnoull’s expense.

Kinnoull skipper Sandy Ross is nursing a hamstring strain and is in the doubtful category. He may have a late fitness test. Neil Gardiner has returned from his visit to Australia and returns to the squad which will be minus David Quinn who is unavailable. Manager Scott Brown expects to have a squad of 16 available.

Luncarty and Bankfoot both have away games in the Central League. Luncarty visit Kirkcaldy YM and the Bleachers manager Barrie Malcolm will, for the first time since he took over at Brownlands Park, have his two strikers available.

Fraser Simpson and Kyle Warner have both been out of action with long term injuries so that’s certainly a boost for Barrie who now has an almost full squad available. Only Scott Wightman is out of the reckoning with a hand injury. Barrie Malcolm expects to have a squad of 18 available.

Bankfoot are guests of Lochore Welfare and they will have Scott McCable and Barry Ward back in the squad now that they have completed the suspension stints. That unfortunately is where the good news ends for manager Robin Wood as he will again be without Jim Weir due to business commitments while Danny Dobbie and Gary Campbell are ruled out of the equation. Danny has a leg injury and Gary has had a reoccurrence of his hamstring problem.

Robin Wood’s problems may not end there as his goalkeeper Mike White and striker Neil McCallum are doubtful. Mike has a leg injury while Neil is nursing a groin strain. Both players are likely to have late fitness tests. The Bankies gaffer intends to include a trialist in his squad. He will make a late selection.

Scone Thistle have no official fixture but they have arranged to play a friendly with Methven Amateurs at the RDM ground with the unusual kick-off time of 12.30pm. Manager Derek Adam expects to have trialists in his squad.

TOMORROW’S fixtures: Bukta Team Wear Com Leagues:

Premier League - North End v Kinnoull; Oakley v Blairgowrie.

Central League – Jeanfield Swifts v Lochgelly Albert; Lochore Welfare v Bankfoot Athletic; Kirkcaldy YM v Luncarty.

North League – Brought Athletic v Coupar Angus. All kick-offs 2.30pm.

Friendly – Scone Thistle v Methven Amateurs, kick-off 12.30pm.