Dougie Samuel learning as Spartans go through transition period

Dougie Samuel has been unable to field a settled team

Spartans boss Dougie

Samuel believes the setbacks

to hit the club this season

will be beneficial in the long term.

The two-time Lowland League champions have been plagued by a spate of injuries for most of the campaign – the Capital side occupy fifth but are 18 points off the pace of leaders Kelty Hearts.

However, the Ainslie Park outfit are going through a transistioanl period and are operating with a substantially lower budget in comparison to big spenders Kelty, East Stirlingshire and BSC Glasgow.

Samuel admits the target between now and the end of the campaign is to finish as high as possible.

Ahead of tonight’s visit to Cumbernauld Colts, Samuel said: “It’s been a hugely challenging season for a whole host of reasons, the biggest one being we’ve simply not been able to get our best players on the park at the same time as often as we would have

liked.

“Injuries to key players from the get-go has made it difficult to build a settled side. Bearing in mind we went into the current season on the back of losing a large number of key players, the landscape was already unsettled.

“However, as with any struggle it has been a great learning experience and invariably it has created opportunities for some. Blair Atkinson is assuming more responsibility and continues to blossom.

“I’m quietly pleased with our recent form, with our consistency of application. In the short term the immediate goal is simple – to finish as high as possible in the league

and outperform our budget.

“It’s fair to say the landscape has changed, recruitment is much tougher and the competition on the park is now at a much higher level and increasing year on year.

“It’s a great challenge and one we are embracing.

“Games against Colts are normally entertaining, full of goals so I’m expecting much of the same

tonight.”