Cambuslang Rangers co-boss Billy Campbell anticipates a hard period for lower league clubs after his side’s West of Scotland Football League Conference B match with Renfrew was called off.
A Covid outbreak at Renfrew means Camby’s 2021 ends without a game prior to the league’s winter break.
Another one of Cambuslang’s recent matches against Glasgow United was called off due to bad weather. The club’s next match is against Greenock Juniors next month.
Campbell predicts that with weather worsening and the Omicron variant bringing Covid fears back to the fore, it could be a rocky period in terms of games being played.
He explained: “That’s us done until the eighth of January. We are gutted. The guys at Renfrew gave us a call and gave us a heads up. Then the league gave us a call to confirm that Renfrew had a situation with Covid.
“It is what it is. It is just the situation we find ourselves in right now.
“Covid is beginning to have an impact on us all again. As we were 18 months ago, the health and wellbeing of the fans, players and management has to come first and foremost.
“What will be will be. We can’t affect it so we are heading into a frustrating period. There are going to be restrictions on the way, then we have the weather and Covid to deal with.
“Unless it is extremely bad weather, something like a heavy bout of snow, then we are able to train on a 4G pitch. With regards Covid, we just need to take that as it comes, just like every other club at the moment.
“It’s going to be a tough period for every club. But the health and safety of everyone involved is the main thing.”
Saturday’s postponement means that Cambuslang Rangers end 2021 top of Conference B, with Campbell and fellow gaffer Paul McColl's side sitting in a comfortable position with a six-point lead and a game in hand over St Cadoc’s in second.
Campbell added: “We’re happy with what we’ve done so far but as I have said all along, nothing is won.
“We’ve done well and we have maintained our position at the top of the league.
“There’s a hell of a lot of tough games to come in the closing half of the season. So we’ll keep the guys focused. There’s a lot of talk about us.”
After the Christmas period, Cambuslang’s focus turns to facing Greenock next month, who have risen to fourth after a recent upturn in form.
Campbell said: “That is going to be a massive game. They just beat Gartcairn which shows what they are bringing to the league.
“They are flying at the moment so we have to make sure we’re prepared for it.”
Between Christmas and New Year, Camby have announced friendlies with Petershill and Lanark, both away from home, on December 27 and 29, respectively.
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