Arbroath manager Dick Campbell is looking forward to taking his troops to Tannadice to face Dundee United but reckons the season is starting far too early.
The Gayfield boss said: “I am delighted for the people who work at the club and for those who follow Arbroath that they are going to have a derby match with Dundee United.
“It should be a great day out at a club that I know well after starting my career there.
“They have a fantastic history and a fantastic ground, however I do think this game is coming too soon.
“Starting the season on July 14 is early in my opinion as we have not had a full range of pre-season games and also our squad is not full.
“Full-time clubs have players in with them that they still have to make decisions on so you have to keep a space in your squad available to see who comes up.”
Campbell will push his reservations over the early start to the side as he explained: “Despite my misgivings this is a game that we will look to win.
“I want us to go out and have a go.
“We have done our research and had United watched as well. Whilst taking on a full-time side just now is not ideal I want us to have a day to remember.”
The Gayfield manager has a goalkeeping quandary to solve before kick-off.
He explained: “Both Darren Jamieson and Darren Hill have been terrific since they came in. I can only pick one of them and it will be a tough choice.”
Campbell hopes to add former Dunfermline, Berwick Rangers and Brechin City attacker Finn Graham before kick-off.
“I still do not have all the fire-power on board that I want and getting Finn signed up would take us a step closer to getting there,” he added.
