Kingussie stalwart Steve Borthwick has told the club committee that he is willing to take the manager’s job and is poised to be elected unopposed at the annual meeting on November 16.
Borthwick, who has helped out with the second team, has been considering his position since Jim Gow revealed last month he would be stepping down at the end of the season through pressure of work.
Kingussie dropped a precious point in their Premier Division title struggle with neighbours Newtonmore when the champions were held 2-2 by Oban Camanachd at Mossfield Park.
Ronald Ross scored both Kingussie goals but had stitches inserted in a gash below his knee and is struggling to be ready for this weekend’s shinty-hurling international with Ireland at Inverness. Paul Gow also had stitches inserted in a head wound.
Craig Macmillan fired Oban into a shock lead and though Kingussie later led 2-1, Oban piled on the pressure and Jonathan Will equalised five minutes from time, the point lifting Oban into the top five.
It was good news for Newtonmore, whose game at Inveraray was rained off.
Kingussie manager Gow said: “It doesn’t make a big difference as we’re now level but we have two to play and More have three, so we always had to beat Newtonmore at The Dell on November 7 to keep our hopes alive.
“Our last game at Kyles Athletic is difficult but More have two away games at Inveraray and Lochaber, who are both fighting for their lives.”
The Kyles-Bute game was rained off and Lochaber seized the chance to win 4-2 at Glenorchy.
Lochaber are now four points ahead of Bute and have one to play while the islanders need five points from their last three games.
Doubles from Sean Nicolson and Lachie Campbell sank relegated Glenorchy. Grant MacPherson and Stuart Scott netted for the home side but Ally Ferguson’s men now have a great chance of staying up.
Lovat now require to beat bottom club Lochcarron, who have won only once all season, at Kiltarlity to clinch the North First Division title.
The equation became simple after their 5-1 home win against Inverness took them within a point of leaders Kilmallie, who completed their schedule three weeks ago.
Fraser Gallagher opened inside two minutes and Greg Matheson made it 2-0 four minutes later to put Lovat in the driving seat.
Raymond Rennie and Matheson doubled the lead early in the second half before Fraser MacDonald struck for the visitors. Calum MacAulay rammed home the Balgate men’s fifth two minutes from time.
Kinlochshiel and Beauly ended a poor season with a 1-1 draw at Kirkton. Finlay MacRae scored for Shiel then Jack MacDonald equalised.
Champions Glenurquhart concluded their North Second Division campaign with a 3-0 win at Glengarry with goals from Ewan Fraser, Calum Fraser and Kelvin Mackenzie.
Kinlochshiel and Lovat had a goalless draw and by contrast Fort William drew 3-3 at Kingussie with Russell Jones, Michael Clark and Thomas Borthwick the home marksmen and James Cameron, Danny Stewart and Steve Stewart replying for Fort.