I don’t think that’s comparable when we were only heading one way with Dodds, and we weren’t in the top 6. I think the fact that since the 19/20 season we’ve been promoted to unprecedented heights, in a division above, in a play-off final, and going nicely at the top of the league prior to Dodds’ arrival has raised expectations somewhat. Even in the seasons before that we’d had a promotion and a nail-biting relegation scrap.
If anything, we’ve been spoilt for excitement throughout this decade. We are overdue a ‘consolidation’ season and yet this one could still be pretty exciting come March-April.
Was it Auchinleck’s choice to play today’s cup tie at Rugby Park? I remember a few years ago Darvel hosted Aberdeen at what looked like a Hellenic league ground. Have the rules changed?
In a statement, Auchinleck Talbot said: "Following various meetings and lengthy discussions involving East Ayrshire Council, Police Scotland, and the Scottish Football Association, the club has taken the difficult and extremely disappointing decision to relocate our Men’s Scottish Cup fourth round tie against Celtic to Rugby Park.
"Although Beechwood Park meets and goes beyond the SFA Club Licensing Entry Level criteria in certain areas, various concerns the club could not ignore arose in relation to the ability of the surrounding infrastructure to cope with such a high-profile event that has brought worldwide interest to the village of Auchinleck and Auchinleck Talbot F.C.
“The club thanks East Ayrshire Council Events & Resilience, Police Scotland, Scottish Football Association, Celtic F.C. & Kilmarnock F.C. for their input and assistance during this process.”
