Glentoran face an uphill battle

GLENTORAN'S manager, Tommy Cassidy, will watch from the stand as his team battles it out with Sparta Prague in today's European Cup Winners' Cup tie.

Cassidy, a former Northern Ireland and Newcastle player, is banned from the dressing room and the dug out after being declared persona non grata by UEFA four years ago and will give his tactics talk in a nearby hotel Just before kick off.

When I returned from managing the Cyprus I made allegations in the media of corruption and bribery among officials and referees," he said.

"UEFA called me to Zurich to explain. I saw what was happening with my own eyes but obviously couldn't provide the evidence. They found the allegations unsubstantiated and I was declared persona non grata.

"It was an absurd decision considering I was acting in the best interests of football by bringing the issue into the open. I regret it now for there is no way you can beat the establishment, irrespective of how good your case may be."

The ban will also apply when the Irish Cup holders travel to Prague for the August 22nd second leg.

Cassidy admits his team go into the game as underdogs, saying. "They are a superb team real class. I watched them defeat Auxerre during their pre-season build up in France.

"They possess quality in every department and I believe they can win the tournament. I wouldn't doubt that.

"There is no way we can go on constant attack in this fixture. That would be suicidal. We have to adopt a containment policy to keep ourselves organised and disciplined at the back.

Glentoran lost seven pre-season friendlies and suffered injury problems hut all their players are available except midfielder John Kennedy and full back Colin Nixon, while winger Just in McBride is recovering from a stomach virus.

Sparta Prague transferred two of their Czech Republic internationals during the summer goalkeeper Petr Koiiba (now with Coruna) and midfielder Pavel Medved (Lazio) but have signed six outstanding players from other Czech league clubs.

Still in the squad which arrived in Belfast yesterday are international midfielder Martin Frydek and winger Michael Hornak who played in five of the six Euro 96 games.