SICKNESS BUG A WORRY

Coach Jim McInally is hoping no more of his players fall victim to a sickness bug that has laid a number of the squad low over the past few days.

Already it has forced Simon Lynch and Paul Hay to miss Saturday's game at Annan. By Tuesday it had spread and Dean Richardson, Derek Ure and Ryan Harding were affected.

Although Lynch, Harding and Hay all played in Tuesday's 3-0 defeat at the hands of Queen's Park, Jim had to withdraw the latter two at half-time because they were so ill.

"With hindsight, Hay and Harding should not have played. It was brave of them to get out of their beds but after about two minutes Paul was totally shattered. You can't criticise them for what they did but I  should not have put them in the team"

Shire will not seek to postpone Saturday's home game with Forfar Athletic on medical grounds but Jim is concerned more players may fall victim.

"It has been a nightmare situation," said the coach. "Every time I  get a phone or a text it seems someone else has got it. We never seem to get injuries as such and the problem with illness is people go on antibiotics and that takes it out of them."

The players will gather on Thursday night for their normal training session where the coach will be able to assess the situation better before choosing a team to face Forfar on Saturday.