Away days taking their toll on McKenna's Scorries
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WICK Academy manager Tom McKenna will be a relieved man in more ways than one once the team bus arrives back in Caithness on Saturday night.
He will be hopeful that his Scorries will have bagged three points from their fixture at Nairn County but also thankful to have ended a spell of over a month with the club having no home games.
September 14 against Lossiemouth was the last time Wick played at Harmsworth Park and this weekend's clash at Nairn will be the fifth game in a row that has seen the Scorries hit the road.
McKenna says it is not satisfactory.
"I would like to think that the league will have a look at this and see if this situation can be avoided next season," he said.
"I don't control the club's purse strings but I'd imagine that having no home games for a month and the money a game at Harmsworth can generate from the gate, and also match-day sponsorship, might have had an effect.
"From the perspective of the playing and management staff, being constantly on the road does take its toll.
"Most away games do have a fair travelling distance, and even though Nairn will be one of the shorter ones it does grind you down.
"Last weekend [at Rothes], for example, because that was our fourth away trip in succession, I just did not enjoy any of it and was relieved to finally get off the bus.
"Thankfully, we'll soon be back to a home-away-home-away pattern with the fixtures."
From the perspective of the playing and management staff, being constantly on the road does take its toll.
McKenna added: "Nairn have a fantastic playing surface at Station Park and they like to keep the ball on the deck and play attractive football.
"We will also be hoping for a repeat of the last time we were down there when we won 4-1 in the league last season.
"Despite last week's loss at Rothes, the boys have managed to shake that off and put in a good training session ahead of this game.
"Our squad numbers are good for this one as well and it looks like I'll have the unenviable task of telling a couple of the boys that they will have to miss out."
County boss Ronnie Sharp is eagerly anticipating Wick's visit.
Sharp said: "We always have good tussles with Wick Academy. They are usually a good footballing team so it will suit us as well to play against them."
