Dungannon Swifts boss Dean Shiels insists Saturday’s Danske Bank Premiership clash with Ballymena United isn’t a “grudge match” over the Dougie Wilson transfer affair.
Shiels hit out at Wilson in a post-match interview seven weeks ago after it became known the 27-year-old had signed a pre-contract with David Jeffrey’s Sky Blues.
The straight talking Swifts manager claimed the versatile defender had informed him of the development the night before Dungannon suffered a heavy 5-1 loss at Ballymena on March 27.
At the time, Shiels said: “I’ve got my captain ringing me the night before the game telling me that he’s signing for Ballymena, so how do you deal with that?
"You tell me, has he let me down, has he let his teammates down? I don't know."
Wilson, who spent seven years at Dungannon before parting company with the County Tyrone club after that defeat at United, is poised to join the Braid club in the summer.
Asked if Saturday’s match-up at Stangmore Park is a “grudge match” as a result, Shiels said: “No, not at all. Ballymena have a lot of good players and threats.
“We'll have to be at our best, but we’ll have a game plan and go and try to win the game.
“I wasn’t happy to go out of the Irish Cup against Linfield last weekend, but our focus now is on the league and we have three games left.
“I’ve asked the players, do they want to give up for the last three games or fight and show some pride and courage and to go and win the next three games. I expect the players to respond.”
While Dungannon are rooted to the foot of the table, they aren’t at risk of the drop because there is no relegation this season due to no Championship being played.
Ballymena, who face Linfield in the Irish Cup semi-finals on Tuesday night, are chasing a seventh place finish and a berth in the European playoffs early next month.
