Whyte bids to bow out with title
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NEIL Whyte can think of no better ending to his Highland League career than winning the championship with Forres Mechanics.
The stalwart was persuaded out of retirement at the start of this season by boss Charlie Rowley.
And the icing on the cake of a dream season so far would be finishing top of the table come May.
With 14 games remaining, Forres are getting down to the business end of the season and they show no signs of nerves or imploding.
Whyte will be 37 by the end of the campaign and admits retirement will be for good this time.
"To win it with Forres after so many years would be fantastic," said Whyte, who has been 11 years at Mosset Park.
Loyalty has been Whyte’s watchword during a 17-year career which has seen him play for just two clubs and feature in home town team Elgin City’s debut season in the Scottish Third Division in 2000-01.
"I would like to think I have given something back to Forres over the years, so it couldn’t finish any better than to win the league."
Whyte’s work commitments at Dailuaine Distillery on Speyside mean he might rely on the spirited support of workmates to play a full part in the Mechanics’ title surge.
"Our shift patterns have changed and we work three weekends in five at the moment. The guys at work have been really good, but I don’t like taking liberties," he said.
"A lot of the guys at the distillery have an interest in football, so they have bent over backwards to help me."
Whyte will definitely miss the trip to Huntly this weekend, weather permitting, as he has been waiting weeks to serve a one-game suspension, so if that falls victim to the freeze it would mean he would serve his ban with the Wick game.
"To many people it looks like a two horse race but it would be naive to assume Cove are the only team that can catch us.
Inevitably, many people will look ahead to a huge game at Cove Rangers on March 2 as a possible title decider, certainly if Forres could emerge with a victory.
He is confident the players have the mental toughness to rise to the challenge, despite the fact few have been in this position before.
"We have the chance to make a little history for Forres and that doesn’t come around that often.
