Craig Slater has already seen Ray McKinnon’s managerial qualities up close as part of Queen’s Park title-winning squad in 2021.
And after welcoming McKinnon to Forfar last month, Slater is confident things will soon be on the up for the Angus side.
Forfar are currently two points off Bonnyrigg Rose at the bottom of League Two.
But while survival is the first target for Slater he’s confident McKinnon – his former boss at Spiders – can make a big impact at Station Park.
“I worked with the gaffer before and I really rate him,” said Loons captain Slater.
“He’s very experienced and operated at the top level of Scottish football.
“He demands high standards and there’s always intensity about his training sessions.
“But he is also a very positive person and I think we’ve all had a lift since he’s come in.
“At Queen’s Park he recruited really well but he also played a big part – along with the players – in creating a togetherness.
“All successful teams need that sort of team spirit. It’s good to get together away from the pitch, to get to know each other in a different setting.
“When you are on it, you go that extra yard for your team-mates.
“You can see the impact the gaffer is already having on us.
“We came close to beating Bonnyrigg Rose, losing a goal in injury time and then we came away with a point from Dumbarton with ten men.
“We really rolled our sleeves up that day and we are growing stronger.”
Craig Slater: Forfar haven’t written off play-offs
Survival remains Slater’s number one target for this term but he hasn’t yet written off a run to the play-offs under McKinnon.
Forfar finished second last season, behind Kelty Hearts, but haven’t yet picked up from where they left off.
Despite their lowly position, they are only eight points adrift of the play-offs.
“It’s important we remember we are down at the bottom because we haven’t been good enough,” added the Loons number 10 who faces Albion Rovers on Saturday.
“The manager carries the can for results and we’ve just lost ours so we, as players, need to take some responsibility for that.
This Saturday the Loons return to league action, home to Albion Rovers in a must win game.
Click on the link to read the upcoming match information. https://t.co/4QG4mPRCpi pic.twitter.com/UfgSytTTXG
— Forfar Athletic (@ForfarAthletic) November 29, 2022
“But at the same time, I’m a positive person.
“It’s not been a good start to the season but we are only part of the way through. Our league is so tight that a few wins could push us into contention for the play-offs.
“That’s not a crazy theory, it’s a fact. It’s there for the taking and down to us to try aim high.
“There are a lot of good people working behind the scenes at Forfar and they deserve success.”
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