Dick’shappy tobeScrooge againstPars

IT IS a season where the spirit of goodwill normally shines through — but Forfar boss Dick Campbell is unlikely to be in the giving mood ahead of today’s trip to Dunfermline.

Campbell and former assistant Bert Paton made their mark on the Fife club as the Pars’ management team in the 1990s and returned last month to support a successful fundraiser aimed at swelling the cash-strapped East End Park club’s coffers.

However, following his team’s 6-1 demolition at the hands of Rangers in midweek, the Loons boss’ generosity to the Pars stops there.

“It’s a big game for Dunfermline and I watched them during the week againstAyr in the Scottish Cup,” he said.

“They have been in a bit of a mess financially recently and I have just been at a fundraiser for them but to be honest, I’m not really concentrating on Dunfermline.

“If I talked about going back to my old clubs, there have been that many of them I would be doing it every week.

“I’m more concerned with what Forfar do at the moment, getting three points and bouncing back from the massive kick in the teeth we had in midweek.

“There will certainly be changes but I’ve already named my team and we’re going to Dunfermline to try to get the three points.”

Midfielder Jamie McCluskey is out through injury, while on-loan striker Dale Hilson will also be sidelined after picking up a hamstring injury at Ibrox onTuesday night.

Defender Stuart Malcolm will miss out due to suspension, although on-loan Aberdeen player Craig Storie is likely to feature in what will be the last game of his short loan spell.

Discussions are continuing between Campbell and Dons boss Derek McInnes about potentially extending Storie’s stay.

Today’s hosts were boosted by the midweek win overAyr which set up a Scottish Cup date against Rangers in February and the Pars can also take heart from the fact Campbell’s men did not fare particularly well on their last visit to East End.

That was in the First Division relegation play-off semi-final and the Pars ran out 6-1 winners on the day — winning 7-4 on aggregate — against a Loons team who ended with just eight men.

However, the Pars were humbled 4-0 when the teams met at Station Park in October and will be anxious to avenge that result if possible.

Striker Allan Smith, who scored his first senior goal in that play-off fixture against