Tommy Sloan staying positive despite Auchinleck Talbot’s stadium switch

Tommy Sloan is preaching positivity ahead of Auchinleck Talbot’s relocated Scottish Gas Scottish Cup tie against Celtic on Sunday.

The West of Scotland League side had hoped to stage the fourth-round tie at their compact Beechwood Park which has a capacity of around 4,000, but ultimately announced the “difficult and extremely disappointing decision” to move the tie to Rugby Park, home of their Ayrshire neighbours Kilmarnock of the William Hill Premiership.

Talbot, who play in tier six of the pyramid, revealed the decision came after “various meetings and lengthy discussions involving East Ayrshire Council, Police Scotland and the Scottish Football Association”.

Veteran boss Sloan is aware of the negativity that shrouded that decision but told the Press Association that everyone connected with the club has to rally round in the bid to shock the Parkhead outfit, who have won the competition a record 42 times.

“It was a big disappointment for us, no question,” he said.

“From a football point of view, I wanted our tighter pitch, that’s the main reason and obviously our crowd is closer to pitch.

“Even though the crowd will be bigger at Rugby Park, it would have been a better atmosphere at our place.

“But I don’t want to put any negatives on it.

“I was disappointed it wasn’t to be at our place and so were the players but we are playing Celtic, it is at Rugby Park, we get on with it.

“There was a bit of negativity, I read about it in a couple of newspapers, you don’t want to do that to an occasion like this for us.

“There was no one more disappointed than me but let’s hope the fans realise it has been taken out of our hands, as far as I know.

“We just need to do the best we can.

“We will have a good support, I don’t have any doubt about that.

“I have heard the negativity but I don’t imagine there will be too many who won’t go to it.”