BARRY Corr's back injury is likely to keep him sidelined until September with Paul Sturrock revealing the striker's omission against Bristol Rovers was probably the hardest decision I've ever made in my career'.

A scan has revealed the young striker has a crack in his troublesome back although a summer of rest should fix it.

He was badly missed at the Memorial Stadium but Sturrock felt it was the right decision to leave him out, albeit the player himself wanted to feature.

Sturrock said: "It was a huge blow to the football club.

"The scan has shown there's a crack. There's no way we're going to take a chance on that.

"The medical decision was that he shouldn't play. I took the decision.

"I think Barry would have climbed a mountain to play, even in the circumstances of how he's feeling, but he has to think of his long term future rather than his short term.

"Barry has been a key figure, such an influence and people have played off him.

"It's a big blow and probably the biggest decision I've ever made in my career but I felt it had to be made.

"In the end, it's a bad scan. He wanted to play and that shows you the kind of lad he is.

"In the end it was a decision made by me for Barry rather than anything else.

"Lucky white heather he doesn't have. It's a real body blow and I was hoping that the players would appreciate that and do one for Barry against Bristol Rovers."

It throws into question the player's County Ground future but Sturrock is not about to be drawn into that.

He said: "We don't really know the extent of it. The specialist wants to have another study of it.

"We've been told by the medical department that rest will definitely fix it.

"It might be too early for the first month of the season but he should be flying by September."

But as for the next campaign, Sturrock said: "I've got too much on my mind to be worrying about next season."

At least there was some consolation for Corr over the weekend as he was shortlisted for the League Two player of the month award.