Elgin City manager Gavin Price delighted to have Jim Weir back at Borough Briggs - but selection worries for City against Kelty Hearts tomorrow
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GAVIN Price said Elgin City’s Covid issues worked in the club’s favour with the return of former boss Jim Weir to Borough Briggs.
Weir has joined manager Price’s coaching staff for the remainder of this season.
The 52-year-old is Elgin’s most successful manager in over 20 years of Scottish League football, having bossed them between 2014 and 2017.
He joined Price in the Borough Briggs technical area for their last home match, a 3-1 win against Stirling Albion and supported current assistant Steven MacKay when Price was isolating last weekend and missed the 2-1 defeat at Annan Athletic.
Price revealed: “It has really come about through the Covid thing.
“Sid (Steven MacKay) was missing for the Stirling Albion game and Jim was missing along with (goalkeeping coach) Stevie Dunn for the Forfar game, and I was missing for Annan. So we have all been affected over the last while.
“But getting Jim involved in some kind of role at the club is something I talked about earlier in the season.
“He can’t make training but it is good to have his experience around on matchdays.
“He is somebody I speak to regularly through the season and it’s great to have him. We travelled up for the Stirling game and had a good chat and I managed to persuade him to come in until the end of the season, which I think will help us.
“He is loving it, and I think we both missed the journey up the road together, perversely.
“He is a good talker and gives something different to the players. It was a no-brainer for me, I want to make the backroom staff as strong as I can and it complements what Sid and Stevie give us as well.
“It might be just short-term, but I will take anything that can benefit the team.”
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A City team led by MacKay and Weir – while Price watched the live stream at home – ran second-placed Annan close, but succumbed to a Tommy Goss double after Kane Hester had levelled the striker’s 46th minute opener.
“I had to watch it from my living room, half a minute behind. It was quite a frustrating watch,” said Price.
“I could see the boys played well and Sid and Jim have emphasised that. We switched off for the winner, a setplay goal, which is disappointing. We certainly deserved something from the game.”
Price is now out of isolation and will resume his managerial role for Saturday’s home game against leaders Kelty Hearts.
However, the club’s Covid issues continue, with Aberdeen loan teenager Evan Towler missing tomorrow as he is isolating. In addition, Cove loanee Jevan Anderson sustained a muscle tear in his shoulder in the Annan defeat and will miss the rest of the season, along with captain Euan Spark.
“Left back is a concern now with three players who can potentially play there all being out now,” said Price.
“But we have got options on how we play it.”
