Arbroath manager Dick Campbell remaining bullish despite imminent loss of loan stars Joel Nouble and Anton Dowds

Speaking exclusively to the Angus County Press, Campbell revealed that Nouble and Dowds’ respective parent clubs Livingston and Falkirk will be recalling the striking pair in January. That was when Dowds’ loan deal expired anyway but Nouble had agreed his initial temporary switch to Gayfield until the end of this season.

"I don’t see it as a blow losing these guys,” Campbell said. “I just see it as a magnificent opportunity for other guys to come in.

"You are better looking at the positive side. Dowds wasn’t playing a lot of games, he’s only played three.

"Nouble, we’ll miss him, he’s a right good player. He’s as good a loan player as I’ve ever had.

"Dowds scored a fabulous goal at Kilmarnock last week and I was glad for him.

"I’m already busy trying to replace them. I will definitely be trying to get a guy on loan from a big team.

"They might have to come from a big team to get into my team.

"I have one or two out on loan myself so I will need to see if I bring them back.”

Campbell stressed that he is “absolutely delighted” with the staff he has at the club.

He added: “Remember, I’ve got Luke Donnelly, Dale Hilson and Michael McKenna who are ample and suitable replacements.

"But the big problem I’ve got is trying to replace players. Trying to get players in who are better than what I have got is extremely difficult.

"If we get a player from a part-time team it’s going to be their best player, who they’re not going to want to get rid of.

“The secret will be, when it’s mathematically confirmed that we are definitely staying up, I can do anything I want.

"At the moment I’m just desperate to stay up in the league.

"I listen to everybody talking about us getting into the play-offs. I’m not interested in play-offs."