Sandy Clark v Albion Rovers

Last year's Albion Assistant Manager gives an insight into Saturday's opposition.

Sandy Clark is looking forward to his side meeting Albion Rovers on Saturday and the team that he assisted win the League Two title last season. Speaking exclusively to this website the Dunfermline Assistant Manager predicted the guarantee of a difficult game for currently second placed Pars. Coming from Airdrie Sandy had a very special view of the Coatbridge club:-

"I ended up working there last year and I had a brilliant year there. I really enjoyed it, they were a really good bunch of players, good directors. The fans - there weren't that many of them - but they got right behind the club and backed us all season.

"I am pleased for them that they are doing well. When you look at the league table, they are not that far behind us as far as points go. They have obviously still kept the spirit that was there last year. Darren Young the manager, has brought Billy Stark in which was a wise move by him.

"They are still a strong squad and the biggest compliment that I can pay them is that they are a really great working group who will do the best they can in every game. They are very professional at doing that."

How is Darren as a manager?

"He reminds me of Allan Johnston if you go back about three years - just out of playing and given the opportunity to go into management. He took that opportunity, he asked me if I would go along and help him but I must admit I thought long and hard about but I am delighted I did.

"Darren played in a lot of the games last year which let me get on with things at the side of the park. That kind of suited everybody at the time but he has learned a lot in a year. No doubt about that and he has made some good signings in the summer.

"I see he left himself out of the team last week so he is getting wiser as far as team selection goes" joked Sandy.

"He is progressing and he is doing well. If he keeps Albion Rovers up this year it will be a major, major success for him. When we started the season last year at Albion Rovers we had a reasonably good squad.

Previous year Albion had a great cup run knocking Motherwell out of the Scottish Cup and then going on to take a draw away from Ibrox to take Rangers to a replay. This season they have four former Pars players - Darren Young, Paul Willis, Scott McBride and Andy Barrowman - and Sandy praised Barra saying:-

"I never worked with Andy but I know that he is a good player. He scored a couple of goals last week so he will be a danger. Willis and McBride we played against last year at their clubs East Fife and Arbroath. They are good experienced players so they will be a handful. Nobody can say that it will be an easy game, if we want a result we will have to work for it."

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