STRIKER David McNiven and defender Iain Swan were today handed free transfers by Athletic. The two fringe players, who have been pushed to the back of the first-team queue, are the first victims of Andy Ritchie's bid to slash his 37-strong squad. McNiven (21) has played 26 league games, most of them as a substitute, and scored two goals. Ironically, he found the net on his last appearance —against Luton last month — but has failed to force his way back into the side.

McNiven, who has had a loan spell in Sweden and also suffered with injuries, is now way down in the pecking order for a place up front. His eventual exit will break the footballing link with twin brother Scott, who was able to establish himself much earlier at Boundary Park. Meanwhile, Swan, a 19-year-old centre-half, can leave after only three senior appearances. The big Scot enjoyed the thrill of making his debut against Chelsea when he came off the bench in last season's FA Cup. But he has since seen Ben Futcher move ahead of him and the writing was on the wall when Athletic signed defender Paul Jones from Leigh RMI this week.

Said Ritchie: "Both players are out of contract in the summer and they weren't going to be renewed. "They have had chances in the first team and not produced any consistency. "I've often told David that he has a lot of ability, but he only shows it in fits and starts, including in the reserves.

"It's only fair that we give them a chance to get something sorted out before the big rush comes in the summer." McNiven and Swan are unlikely to be the last men made available in the coming months as cash-strapped Athletic seek to make cutbacks in their wage bill. Their squad is far bigger than the average second division club and it would be no surprise if the numbers were cut from 37 to 25, or even lower.

SHAUN GARNETT has targeted this weekend's cup clash against Swansea as the date for his long-awaited comeback.

The strongman defender is keen to play against his former club after missing Athletic's last 12 games. Garnett has been out since an abdominal strain was diagnosed as a hernia and required immediate surgery. He played in a specially-arranged friendly against Blackpool last week and continues his quest for fitness tonight when the reserves entertain Manchester City (7 o'clock).

Manager Andy Ritchie has always believed Athletic miss Garnett's ability to organise the defence, as well as his strong physical presence. The player himself holds no grudges against Swansea. But, having failed to settle before Athletic ended his brief spell in Wales, he feels he has a point to prove.

New signing Paul Jones plays tonight, while Matthew Tipton and Steve Whitehall can advance their first-team claims. Striker Paul Beavers is also in the side, while Mark Innes could play after having an ingrowing toenail removed. Athletic will be aiming to reclaim top spot in the Pontins League premier division after being overtaken last night by Port Vale. City's squad includes Michael Brown, Terry Cooke, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Georgian defender Kakhabor Tskhadadze, who makes his return after 15 months out with injury.

ATHLETIC (from): Miskelly, Jones, Garnett, Swan, McLean, Walsh, Boshell, Tipton, Roberts, Beavers, Whitehall, Sugden, Innes, Clitheroe, D McNiven, Campbell.

NEW recruit Paul Jones hopes his career is coming to the boil after clinching a deal to stay at Boundary Park. Jones gave up a job as a kitchen fitter to return to the professional game and hopes he will now clean up with a few flash displays. The 21-year-old defender, who was playing in the Unibond League with Leigh RMI, has signed for the rest of the season after impressing in trials. It is his third chance at hitting the big time and he is determined to make this one count. Jones joined Tranmere Rovers straight from school and had three years at Prenton Park before John Aldridge told him he could leave.

His move to Unibond League club Barrow proved a successful one as the Cumbrians were promoted to the Conference at the end of his first season. Jones was already attracting the scouts and, around Christmas time in his second year, he was offered a six-month contract by Stockport. But, with his career going well in the semi-professional game, he turned down the chance to return to league football. “I was all set to join Stockport, but then I had second thoughts,” the Liverpudlian explained. “Barrow were doing well in the Conference, there was a chance of reaching Wembley in the FA Trophy and the England non-league team had been in touch. “I just thought there was enough going on for me to stay with Barrow, but I decided afterwards that I would take any more offers that came along. “You don’t get many many chances to play league football — I know that because that last offer was nearly two years ago.

“I want to do well here and earn another contract because, if I don’t, I could miss out altogether.” Things went sour at Barrow during the summer when they were kicked out of the Conference for financial reasons. It was then that Jones decided to look for somewhere closer to his Merseyside home. He signed for Leigh on the eve of the season, but it didn’t take long for Athletic to make their move — beating off competition from Premiership side Bradford. Jones revealed: “Although I didn’t know anyone had been watching me, I was told that something might come along if I kept playing well. “Then I heard a club had come in and, when I asked the manager if there was any interest, he said Oldham had been in touch.” After two games for the reserves and an outing in a private friendly, Jones snapped up Athletic’s contract offer. He will be cup-tied for the game against Swansea this weekend but, as there are several defenders on the Boundary Park injured list, could well feature soon in the first-team picture. If he did, he would certainly appreciate how lucky he was. Jones said: “Being a footballer is a cushy job — you only realise that when you’re doing something like digging holes for a living.

“I was a kitchen fitter until last week, but I’ve done all sorts and I’ve worked a lot of night shifts. “It probably isn’t much of a risk for me to give up work and come here because I wasn’t doing anything skilled. “But I know what it takes to do a full-time job and then go off and train in the evening. That’s what I call hard work.”

THE greatest goal in Athletic’s history has been selected in a fans’ survey — and there are no prizes for guessing the winner. It may have been a penalty, but Neil Redfearn’s injury-time winner against Sheffield Wednesday in May, 1991, was the choice of the Boundary Park faithful. Redfearn’s heart-stopping strike sealed a comeback from two goals down which would have been remarkable in its own right. The fact that it clinched the old second division title in the last seconds of the season put the seal on one of Athletic’s finest-ever achievements. The survey by Total Football magazine has settled on every league club’s best goal of all time - the earliest dating back to 1903 and one of Bury’s goals in the 6-0 FA Cup final thrashing of Derby. There are plenty of famous ones, including Peter Withe’s European Cup clincher for Aston Villa (1982), the FA Cup winners of Bobby Stokes (Southampton, 1976) and Ian Porterfield (Sunderland, 1973) and the last-gasp goal at Anfield with which Michael Thomas won the title for Arsenal. And the choice of the Manchester United fans? No, it isn’t Edwards, Best, Law or Charlton. Nor is it Ryan Giggs’ wonder-goal in last year’s FA Cup semi-finals. It isn’t even the shot by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer which took the European Cup back to Old Trafford in May. The choice of United fans was Wembley, 1994, and THAT goal by Mark Hughes against Athletic. Just no escape is there?

ATHLETIC will be involved in a long-awaited experiment this month when football follows rugby into using the 10-yard rule for dissent. In a bid to clamp down on players who argue, kick the ball away or encroach, referees will be ordered to punish the offender with a yellow card and move the free-kick 10 yards closer to goal. The rule is being introduced into the Auto Windscreens Shield, which kicks off in three weeks’ time. It has already been used in several minor leagues, including one in the Channel Islands, where it had an immediate impact.

ANDY RITCHIE’S complaint that Athletic don’t take enough of their chances is backed up by the latest figures released by the Football League. According to statistics taken before the weekend fixtures, Athletic had managed 194 shots in 16 games — 99 on target and 95 off. That was 13 more than their nearest challengers, Gillingham, but, as only 18 goals came from all those attempts, Ritchie’s point is certainly valid. The consolation is that Athletic’s strikers are beginning to find the net with more consistency. Last season, the main three forwards were Mark Allott, Steve Whitehall and Matthew Tipton — total goals 14. This time, Allott (six), Whitehall (three) and Craig Dudley (four) are promising a much more fruitful return.

JOHN SHERIDAN has been named among division two’s players of the month for October. Based on performance ratings in Match magazine, the veteran midfielder was the sixth most influential player among the 24 clubs. Goalkeeper Gary Kelly topped the ratings earlier this season.

THIS weekend’s FA Cup second-round tie will bring one of football’s most unlikely cult heroes to Boundary Park. Cyril the Swan — Swansea’s giant mascot — first made headlines when he was hauled before the FA for running on the pitch to celebrate a goal. He has since stayed in the spotlight and become so popular that he was nominated for BBC Wales’ Sports Personality of the Year. Cyril was competing against Ryan Giggs and rugby star Neil Jenkins, but BBC bosses ordered that he was dropped from the list because he was “not real”. Swansea fans disagree and claim the nine-foot high bird should be reinstated.

Young striker Darren Wardle, who was originally named in the Reserve Team squad for tonight's Pontins Premier Division game against Manchester City, wll miss out after sustaining an ankle injury in training yesterday.

The place in the squad goes to Mark Innes who has recovered sufficiently from the removal of a toe nail to take part at some stage this evening.

Shaun Garnett and Paul Beavers will be keen to impress to stake a claim for inclusion in the weekend's F.A. Cup squad.

Richard Graham who missed the weekend's game through a back injury has reported an improvement in his condition and is hoping to be available for weekend.