Boss Hislop hopes to make Whitehill bow against Spartans

The weather was set to decide whether Steven Hislop will take charge of his first match as Whitehill Welfare manager this evening against old rivals Spartans.

Steven Hislop and assistant David Bingham. Pic: Colin Wright

A pitch inspection was scheduled for 9.30am this morning to determine whether Hislop and assistant David Bingham would be in the Ferguson Park dugout for the first time after being appointed last week.

Whether he makes his bow in the Lowland League tonight or not, Hislop admitted being the man in charge isn’t something he previously saw himself doing.

“I always swore blind I would never be a manager,” he revealed. “It’s too stressful! The assistant has the easy job – he’s got the good relationship with the players as the good cop. Now I’m the bad cop!

“Seriously, it won’t be like that – there was just something about it that felt right and if I didn’t do it then I’d regret it. I’m over the moon they’ve brought me in and I’m looking forward to hopefully bringing the good times back.”

Edinburgh City will have to wait until the weekend for their chance to clinch a second-successive Lowland League title after tonight’s game at Vale of Leithen was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. A win over Stirling University at Meadowbank on Saturday will see them crowned champions.