It is rare indeed before a crunch local derby to hear the managers of both teams singing from the same hymn sheet.
However, that’s exactly what Arbroath’s Dick Campbell and Gary Bollan have done prior to this afternoon’s clash between the sides at Gayfield.
Campbell, of course, was the longest-serving manager in Scottish football before he was sacked by Forfar last December.
This will be the first time he has faced his former club, who are currently top of the League 2 table, since taking charge of the Red Lichties.
However, he and his counterpart Bollan were keen to play down that factor, insisting that everyone connected with both teams will simply be fully focused on securing three points.
Campbell said: “It was a good international break for us and the lads have worked hard in training.
“Jassem Sukar was sent off against Edinburgh City and is suspended for the Forfar game and Kane Hester will miss out because of work commitments.
“But apart from those two, everyone else is available and I named my team on Thursday night.
“We have drawn our last three games but while we would have liked to have three victories, I still believe the draws show we are not doing a lot wrong.
“There is certainly no panic here and if we beat Forfar, we are just seven points behind them and would be one point off second.
“If we could take 14 points from the first quarter, then that would be a not bad return.
“Forfar have done well so far but I would be surprised if they stole a march on everyone and ran away with it.
“I had a great eight years at Forfar and I have no issues with the club at all – instead, Saturday is all about Arbroath and taking three points.”
Bollan believes the game will be a frantic affair but only because it is a local derby and not because his Loons are coming across their former boss.
Bollan, who was named Ladbrokes League 2 Manager of the Month yesterday for the second time in succession, said: “There might be an edge to the game for some people because of former relationships but not for me.
“The game will have a derby edge to it but nothing else as far as I am concerned. It is all about getting a win and moving on.
“I do not view the game as a cup tie or anything like that as it is all about getting the three points from a league meeting.
“We have to be up for it as it is a derby but what matters the most is putting in a much better performance than the one we did in our last league game a fortnight ago where we lost 3-1 at home to Montrose.”
Forfar’s Thomas O’Brien was the recipient of the Player of the Month accolade for September and Bollan is set to welcome him back into his squad.
The manager added: “We were better last weekend against The New Saints in the Irn-Bru Cup and there was no disgrace in losing 3-1 to them as they are a good side.
“We will go into this game in better shape as Thomas O’Brien, Lewis Milne and David Cox are available after injuries.”
