Source: Team_Talk
Campbell bemoans lack of practice
Campbell's Irn-Bru Third Division minnows were already rank outsiders going into the fifth-round tie but their hopes of pulling off one of the greatest shocks in Scottish football history have been hit by the weather.[LNB]Forfar have not played a competitive match this month due to the recent cold snap, while Rangers will arrive at Station Park having been tested in the heat of Sunday's Old Firm derby.[LNB]Campbell said: "The Rangers players have just played Celtic so they'll be sharp.[LNB]"They'll be sharp in their minds, sharp fitness-wise. We'll not be.[LNB]"So everything and the world is against you to try to get a competitive match."[LNB]Campbell has done his best to keep his players match fit by arranging behind-closed-doors friendlies in recent days.[LNB]He said: "We played Brechin last Thursday night and on Saturday we played East Fife, which was fine.[LNB]"But it's not the real McCoy; it's not the real thing."[LNB]Whatever the outcome of the game, Campbell is just delighted it is going ahead at all after a month of postponements at Station Park.[LNB]As well as seeing their cup tie with Rangers put back from its original date of February 8, Saturday's league game with Dumbarton was also called off.[LNB]But Campbell was thrilled and relieved to report there was no prospect of another pitch inspection tomorrow.[LNB]He said: "There's not a problem at all with the pitch. It's perfect.[LNB]"The weather forecast is 10-12 degrees so we're just going to enjoy the game and get it out the way and you never know what can happen."[LNB]Were the tie to be postponed for a second time, it would once again put a question mark over the £120,000 debt-busting windfall Forfar were set to net for hosting Rangers.[LNB]Around £85,000 of that comes from satellite broadcasters Sky, who planned to televise the match on its original date and also agreed to show it on Wednesday.[LNB]But there is no guarantee they would do the same were it to be called off for a second time.[LNB]Campbell, who is hoping to be handed some of the bonanza to invest in the team, said: "What it does is just stabilise the football club.[LNB]"It's been well-documented they got themselves in a bit of a mess in the past. But the overdraft's all cleared off.[LNB]"I'm glad that's all out the way. It might just feed back to me and it may be an opportunity to build a team."[LNB][LNB]
