Veteran defender Paul Finnigan reckons the arrival of new signing Ross Barbour can provide a welcome shot in the arm for Rob Roy’s flagging title ambitions.

An injury crisis coming on top of the Kirkintilloch outfit winning only one of their last six Super Premier Division outings prompted Rabs gaffer Stewart Maxwell into an audacious swoop for highly-regarded Kilmarnock player Barbour.

The full-back has accumulated more than 50 first team appearances for the Senior side to his name, but has dropped out of favour at Rugby Park this season and is allegedly on the verge of joining Queen of the South during the summer months.

Maxi’s persuasive tongue has worked the oracle to get the 23-year-old on board in the meantime and ahead of this week’s Barrhead locking of horns with Arthurlie, much to the delight of Finny even though his regular right-back berth is sure to come under threat from the newcomer.

Ahead of meeting up with his new Rabs team-mates for the first time last night 37 year old Finny said: "Ross is clearly a top quality signing given his experience of playing at SPL level and I think Maxi and assistant boss Paul Ronald deserve a whole heap of praise for what is a bold strengthening move.

“I’m well aware Ross has made his name as a right-back at Rugby Park, but what shouldn’t be overlooked is his versatility in also being able to play central defence as well as in a wide midfielder role.

“That’s a major plus for us coming at a time when Gary McMenamin is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines while both Danny Boyle and John Carter are struggling to recover from injuries that would have kept them out if last Saturday’s game against Clydebank had gone ahead.

“Longer term, I think Ross is a cert to go back upstairs again but he’ll be worth his weight in gold for us if he buys time to get the injured guys back in harness particularly if we need to throw him in him against Arthurlie, whose shock West of Scotland Cup exit against Bellshill on Saturday is sure to provoke a reaction from their players.

“It’s an indication of how tight the Super Premier is this season that our title hopes have not been blown away by taking just five points from a possible 18.

"So we have to be focused on winning this week’s game to get us closer to where we want to be.”

Rob Roy manager Maxi is also anticipating Arthurlie hitting his side with an “all guns blazing” approach after taking in their demise at the hands of Bellshill.

He said: "It was one of those days when nothing went right for the Arthurlie players, but their pride will be hurt and will no doubt be looking to atone against ourselves.”

Quizzed on the acquisition of Barbour, he added: "Ross came up through Queen’s Park ranks along with our own Danny McKenzie, Luke Whelan and Alan Urqhuart so he jumped at the chance to team up with them again.

“He gives us cover in just about every area of the pitch, but the hard bit for myself and Ronaldo is making the best use of what he brings to the table.”

The troubled Barrhead club have not been shy when it comes to making transfer news of their own after their offloading of Stuart McDonald to Renfrew last midweek was followed by gaffer Stevie Kerrigan returning to his former club Bo’ness United to thrash out a season-long loan deal for midfielder Ian Nimmo who is in line to make his home debut against Rob Roy after figuring as a second half substitute at Rockburn Park.

And unconfirmed reports allege ambitious Arthurlie boss Keggs agreed a signing deal with Irvine Meadow counterpart David Greig that would have seen the Ayrshire club’s engine room lynchpin Jordan Murch move to Dunterlie only for the former Junior Scotland cap to pull the plug on his proposed transfer.

Finally comes word of the funeral arrangements for highly revered Junior football figurehead and legendary Cambuslang Rangers chairman Gibby Fyfe who sadly passed away last week at 92 years of age.

A large turnout is expected to attend Gibby’s committal service at the Linn Crematorium this Friday, April 1 (3pm).