Arbroath manager Jim Weir has revealed three of his players are putting off desperately-needed surgery in an effort to steer the Lichties away from the relegation play-offs.
The Angus club go into the final round of matches this weekend knowing a win over drop rivals East Fife will see them safe.
However, they are having to contend with such serious injury problems ahead of Saturday’s Gayfield showdown that Weir scrapped training on Monday evening to give his players a break.
“We have three guys who’ve been struggling for weeks now because they need surgery and another two who are touch and go for the weekend,” he revealed.
“Steven Doris is having such problems with a knee that I just don’t know how he has managed to soldier on, while Alan Rattray and Jamie Redman are waiting on hernia ops and we’ve had to leave them out of some of the midweek games so they can at least make some sort of contribution to our run-in.”
Weir also revealed strikers Brian Scott and Stevie Hislop are doubts for the East Fife clash, saying, “Stevie has a chance of making the bench but Brian is really touch and go.
“It says so much for the character of the boys that they are playing through the pain to get the club safe and I also have to praise the fans.
“A few weeks ago, the general feeling was we’d given ourselves too much to do. But the players have risen to the challenge and the supporters have really backed those efforts.
“I know the boys are ready to give their all again this weekend and I’m sure the fans will play their part as well.
“It’s vital we avoid the play-offs and not just because they are a lottery and can lead to relegation.Injury concerns”The big concern for me is the injuries. Next season starts on July 24 and pre-season training will have to get under way on June 23.
“If our season extends into the play-offs, Steven, Jamie and Alan will have to put their operations off and I’d doubt whether they would be ready for the start of the next season.”
To avoid that scenario, Arbroath would have to achieve something they’ve managed just four times in the league this term-record a victory at Gayfield.
However, Weir is confident they can. “Our home record isn’t a problem because we have been playing a lot better on our own patch than the results might suggest,” he said.
“We were unlucky not to beat Cowdenbeath, Stenhousemuir and Alloa and even when we lost 4-2 to Stirling I was pleased with our performance, especially in the second half.
“East Fife have given us more problems than anyone this season, but the players now know what to expect against them and although we’ve no margin for error I have faith in the lads.”