Published: Wednesday, 11th February, 2009 12:30pm

Walker: Snow go for Burgh

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JOHNSTONE Burgh boss George Walker fears the worst for his side"s league match on Saturday - so much so that he has already booked up an indoor training facility.

Burgh joined all but two of the West Region"s Junior sides on the sidelines at the weekend, as only the Ayrshire District League meeting between Troon and Muirkirk beat the freeze.

And now, with conditions showing no real signs of picking up, Walker has taken the steps to counter a possible postponement.

He said: 'We just took an indoor session in the Lagoon on Saturday, and then sent the boys for a swim and sauna on Monday night.

'I"ve pre-booked the Lagoon again this week as a contingency.

'The groundsman just phoned me [yesterday] and there was still four inches of snow non the park, with not one bit of grass showing.

'It doesn"t look promising. The way it is going with the snow, if conditions don"t improve it will be doubtful.

'I was on the phone to St Mirren trying to arrange a game for [tonight]. Even though it was going to be on astroturf, it looks like it won"t be on either.

'We"ll wait until Saturday, but any more snow and it probably will be off.'

Johnstone, like so many teams in the region, have struggled to string a succession of games together, and have been unable to create any semblance of a run of form.

However, Walker takes some positives from the enforced breaks, and said: 'It"s like starting again - another pre-season. It at least gives us the chance to get bodies back in, like Kevin Adams who is almost fit again.'

Burgh are scheduled to face Cambuslang Rangers at Keanie Park on Saturday for a match that will be the two sides" first encounter of the season.

The Lang, though, are not an unknown quantity to Walker. He said: 'We haven"t played them yet, but I"ve watched them when they played against Glencairn.

'They are a good side and have improved a lot. They will be one of the teams challenging, though I think Glencairn will run away with it.

'They have players back from suspension, and they"ll be there or there abouts.'

Burgh have been drawn away to St Roch"s in the Central League Cup, with the date and time to be confirmed.

The Provanmill Park outfit, who reside in the Central Dictrict Second Division, are as Walker stated a 'sturdy' side and will provide a tough test for Burgh, who were knocked out of the Scottish Junior Cup by lower league opposition.

Meanwhile, Burgh teamed up with Elderslie Amateurs to host a race night at Elderslie Village Hall on Saturday.

Tickets for the event each cost £4, and all the funds raised were split between the two sides.