Old-hand Wilson could be thorn in Butcher's side on Caley return

Published on Friday 9 October 2009 22:51

BARRY Wilson's reappearance at Caledonian Stadium this afternoon promises to be overshadowed by a crucial afternoon for Terry Butcher's side.

The latest example of what part sentiment plays in football will be demonstrated by the reaction of Caledonian Thistle's support to Wilson, a player who spent ten of his professional seasons in Inverness but now dons Queen of the South colours. Eighty three goals from almost 400 appearances ensured Wilson is regarded as a legend in Caley Thistle's brief history. The last time Queens played in Inverness, five years ago, Wilson was among the scorers in a 4-1 win for the hosts.

He was sore to be released by the club in January, immediately before a troubled time in which the manager Craig Brewster was sacked and Terry Butcher replaced him.

"I had no choice but to leave at that time," the midfielder recalled. "You never know what would have happened if I was still there when Terry came in so there is no point worrying about it.

"I was told by Craig that I didn't have a future at the club. Although I knew there was pressure on him at the time, he was given some money and brought in a few new players so I thought the club were going to stick by him. A couple of weeks later, strangely, he was sacked."

Wilson is still based in Dingwall despite now plying his trade for Queens. He has twice featured at the home of Ross County since joining the Dumfries outfit, where his treatment was largely favourable. Wilson, of course, made his name as a youngster at County under the management of his father, ex-Dundee full-back Bobby Wilson.

Today, he is unlikely to be subjected to anything more than good-natured banter by the home support. "A few of them might shout that I am past it," said the 37-year-old.

"But I get that at every other ground I go to anyway. I would like to get a good reception, that would be an emotional moment for me, but I would be disappointed and surprised if there was any real stick."

Butcher's main worry will be how to combat Wilson, still an attacking threat despite his advanced years, plus Queens loanee and another former Caley Thistle hero, Dennis Wyness. Both players were hugely influential as Inverness claimed the First Division title in 2004.

"It will be strange for the Caley Thistle fans, I suppose, seeing two players out there against them who between them scored almost 200 goals for the club," Wilson explained.

"Dennis has had a new lease of life since he joined us. He scored in his first game and had another one disallowed last weekend. He'll really look forward to being back in Inverness, in his own quiet way."

Wilson came as close to an admission as you will find from a professional player that his full-time days and jaunts up and down the A9 may be coming to an end. Asked how long he feels he can keep going for, he admitted: "Not long.

"I know you are a long time retired and I am enjoying my football just now, but I am not sure what will happen in the near future. I might step down a level, to the Second or Third Division, which funnily enough was something I never fancied before.

"But it is coming to the time when I need to put my family first. I will need something closer to home, any kind of job whether in football or not."

For the time being, Wilson's attentions will focus on his latest crucial encounter in the Highlands. He has hardly been a stranger to Inverness, taking in a number of their games as a spectator including last weekend's Alba Challenge Cup semi-final win over neighbours County.

"If we beat Inverness, I think it will be extremely hard for them to be contenders for promotion," Wilson said. His claim is not without foundation, Butcher's men not having tasted victory in a league game on their own patch since March. They currently sit sixth in Scotland's second tier.

"I know from experience that you cannot afford to fall too many points behind the leaders, even at this early stage. If that gap gets to ten points, for example, you will really struggle to get it back. And going a number of home games without winning breeds anxiety on and off the pitch."

Queens have their own aspirations of challenging at the summit, something which would mark a fitting finale if Wilson is to call time on his full-time playing career next summer.

"If everyone is fit, we can definitely be up there," he added. "We were decimated by injuries at the start of the season but things are looking better now; we have to use the game in Inverness to show last Saturday's defeat to Morton was a blip."