Stewart is getting back to the day job

Nov 27 2010 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

DANNY Stewart is looking forward to finally getting back to the day job after another eventful week at Hillheads.

The Vipers have no game this weekend and are in the middle of a three-day break – but that does not mean nothing has been happening at the club.

On Wednesday a relieved Stewart was looking forward to at last going into an Elite League game at full strength – only for Scott Langdon to request a transfer hours later.

Canadian D-man Nick Duff joined this week, Dan Speer making way.

Nathan Salem was released after failing to convince since stepping up from the English National League.

With John Schwarz and Kyle Sibley expected to be back to full fitness for next week’s bottom-two encounter at Dundee Stars, things were at last looking promising.

The departure of defenceman Langdon – one of the few success stories of the season – darkened the mood, but at least the player-coach should be able to return to the forward line next week.

Since Blair Stayzer’s departure in October, Stewart has been filling in as an auxiliary defenceman.

Stewart said of 24-year-old Duff’s arrival. “We needed to get a defenceman in.

“It was not a matter of Duff for Speer (who is a forward), more just a matter of bodies.

“Dan did a decent job for us, but I did not know if the commitment level was what it should be.

“I believe we have played one period of the season with a full roster so far!

“To double-shift out of position because we were short of numbers was hard. Thankfully wehave Dave Holland to help me out on the bench.

“When you are double-shifting you are almost just catching your breath before you go out again, so it is difficult to run the bench as well.”

Second plays top in ENL North One today, but Nottingham Lions already trail Whitley Warriors by nine points after 13 games.

Northern Stars travel to title-chasing Solway Sharks in the Northern League.