Forfar finally ready to cash in on glamour tie

Published on Tuesday 17 February 2009 22:36

FORFAR Athletic manager Dick Campbell is sick to death of pitch inspections – so he is delighted none is needed for tonight's Homecoming Scottish Cup clash with Rangers.

The Loons have not played a competitive match this month due to the cold snap, which forced their money-spinning fifth-round tie to be postponed on 8 February.

The elements also claimed Saturday's Irn-Bru Third Division game with Dumbarton, but the forecast for today means there is virtually no chance of lightning striking for a third time.

And Campbell is mightily relieved not to have to go through the ordeal of another pitch inspection.

He said: "There's not a problem at all with the pitch. It's perfect.

"The long-range weather forecast tomorrow is 10-12C so we're just going to enjoy the game and get it out the way and you never know what can happen."

Were the tie to be postponed for a second time, it would once again put a question mark over the 120,000 debt-busting windfall Forfar were set to net for hosting Rangers.

Around 85,000 of that comes from satellite broadcasters Sky, who planned to televise the match on its original date and also agreed to show it today.

But there is no guarantee they would do the same were it to be called off for a second time.

Campbell, who is hoping to be handed some of the bonanza to invest in the team, said: "What it does is stabilise the football club.

"It's been well-documented they got themselves in a bit of a mess in the past. But the overdraft's all cleared off.

"I'm glad that's all out the way. It might just feed back to me and it may be an opportunity to build a team."

The original tie was a lunchtime kick-off on a Sunday, and one of Sky's conditions for showing tonight's game was that Forfar install better floodlights at Station Park.

That has cost the club around 8,500 – but it is a small price to pay considering the television money which awaits them.

However, having not played competitively for almost three weeks, Campbell knows that his team need a minor miracle to upset a Rangers side battle-hardened by Sunday's Old Firm derby.

"The Rangers players have just played Celtic so they'll be sharp," he said. "They'll be sharp in their minds, sharp fitness-wise. We'll not be.

"So everything and the world is against you to try to get a competitive match."

Campbell has done his best to keep his players match fit by playing behind-closed-doors friendlies in recent days.

He said: "We played Brechin last Thursday night and on Saturday we played East Fife, which was fine.

"But it's not the real McCoy; it's not the real thing."