Time to switch to summer seasons

DANNY Conlon reckons now could be the time for Highland League chiefs to follow shinty’s lead and switch to a summer season.

The Fort FC manager saw Saturday’s home fixture against Nairn County called off due to a waterlogged pitch.

Fort have played 18 games so far this season, but Clach for example haven’t kicked a ball since they beat Fort 6-0 on December 23, while Nairn have played just one game in 2012.

The shinty season starts on March 3 and runs through until early October, although postponements usually means some fixtures run on later.

The Claggan Park boss said: “I would have no problems about the calendar of games being moved more in line with what they now have with shinty, although I know there are still some issues, but overall it seems to have worked.

“Every game in this area was cancelled at the weekend and we have the continued struggle to find anywhere even to train. That means we’re lacking in match fitness, while others are not.

“I know Nairn and Clach, in particular, have been hit by call-offs and we’re not the only ones, but it certainly is a massive hindrance. Maybe now is the time for a rethink.

“The games are piling up and, although there could be an all-weather pitch in Fort William, that’s still in the early stages, so we just have to get on with it and probably now play Saturday, Wednesday, Saturday soon to catch up.”He added: “I also feel sorry for the youths. They have a shut-down in January and December, but lots of games recently have been cancelled and, again, even training the youngsters isn’t easy in this weather. You have to keep them moving, just so that they keep warm.”

If the weather takes a turn for the better in the next few days, Fort will return to league action with a trip to Inverurie Locos on Saturday.

Locos scored an impressive 1-0 win at Deveronvale last weekend, but Conlon is cautiously optimistic.

He said: “Inverurie have had a stop-start season in terms of their results, but we have yet to play them – and we’re in late February, which is certainly quite unusual.

“We usually play quite well up there and if we can take our strongest squad then I think we can compete. You look at Wick Academy. We played very well down here against them, despite the 3-1 scoreline, and they have since gone on to beat Fraserburgh and Forres Mechanics, two excellent results.

“Strathspey’s 2-2 draw at Buckie on Saturday also showed that, on any given day, there are no easy games. I don’t feel we’re too far away, we just need a run of games, so hopefully that can start at Inverurie.”

The poor weather has also scuppered Conlon’s bid to run the rule over trialists in recent weeks.