18th November 1999
18th November 1999 ATHLETIC have made Paul Beavers and Ryan Sugden available for loan spells in a bid to give them more league experience. The two strikers are struggling to make an impact at first-team level and manager Andy Ritchie believes they would benefit from playing elsewhere. Beavers (21), who signed on a free transfer on the opening day of the season, has yet to play a full match since leaving Sunderland. He has started three games and been a substitute in two more but was hit by an Achilles injury 11 weeks ago. The problem was compounded by a lack of full fitness beforehand and the strapping six-footer is a long way from being promoted from the reserves.
Ritchie thinks that Beavers, who has still played only 13 league games, is in need of a bigger challenge. "He needs to toughen up and play regularly at a better standard," the manager said. "It would help him to take a few knocks and knock a few people about himself." Meanwhile, Sugden has faded away to the point where he can't catch the reserves. The 18-year-old's excellent scoring record below senior level saw him become a regular squad member until recently. He was then hit by illness and a dip in form, leading Ritchie to conclude that he needs a chance to develop his game and his confidence.
Athletic's willingness to loan out two strikers shows the number of options they have with Mark Allott, Craig Dudley, Steve Whitehall and Matthew Tipton all fit and available. Earlier this week, another forward, David McNiven, was handed a free transfer. Athletic have already loaned out Dudley this season, with a month at Chesterfield transforming his fortunes. They now hope that lightning will strike twice — or even three times. On the injury front, Neil Adams is likely to miss Saturday's FA Cup, second-round tie against Swansea with a hamstring injury. Central defenders Shaun Garnett and Richard Graham are set to return after injury, while midfield player Mark Innes has been declared fit following an operation on an ingrowing toe nail.
| ADAMS OUT FOR LATICS? | ||
| Neil Adams, who picked up a knock in the shock home reverse against Colchester last weekend, is set to miss his first game of the season as the Latics face Swansea in the FA Cup. Adams picked up a hamstring injury against the U's and is rated as extremely doubtful prior to the Boundary Park clash with the Third Division outfit. Meanwhile, both Richard Graham and Shaun Garnett could be involved in the squad after recovering from knocks. Graham, who has seen his career curtailed by injury, is gradually getting back to fitness after a back injury which has restricted his appearances so far this season. Garbet has come through a reserve team fixture without a reaction and boss Andy Ritchie is hopeful he could get a run-out against the Swans. Meanwhile, Swansea boss John Hollins is just without Kris O'Leary as he takes a strong squad to Oldham. The defender is struggling with an ankle injury but is back in training and recovering well. The Swans will be looking to emulate last season's achievement of two Division Two scalps on their way to the third round of the FA Cup. Hollins said: "All games are difficult, even when you're playing Conference teams nothing is easy." | ||
| McClure backing for Hollins | ||
| Swansea City supremo
Neil McClure gave John Hollins his full backing today by confirming that
his managerial position is not on the Vetch Field agenda. Swansea's vice-chairman
and main Silver Shield money man told the Evening Post that despite pressure
from supporters, Hollins will remain in the Vetch Field hot-seat. "John's
position as manager is not on the agenda," confirmed McClure. "To change
managers at this stage would be a drastic measure. "It's inevitable that
when things are not going right it is always the manager who is the first
in the firing line. "John is bearing the brunt of that now, but I don't
think we will find a finer manager than the one we've already got. "It
is not the manager who is letting us down, it is the players. "The frustrating
thing is that they played their best football for a long, long time against
Halifax, but then played like drains against Shrewsbury and Cheltenham.
"It's the same team in principle, but for some reason they are just not clicking and we've got to find the right button to press to put it right. "The main issue as far as I'm concerned is the lack of motivation and it's something we've got to get to the bottom of. "I've got no doubt in my mind that the squad has the ability and they'll probably come up with a big result at Oldham, but it's how to get them to take the responsibility on a regular basis that's the problem." McClure, who was also full of praise for the way Hollins has brought on the club's youngsters, also hinted that there could be a squad clear-out unless matters improved. "Perhaps a squad of 29 is too much and there's not enough competition for places right at the top of the scale," he added."It's purely a personal opinion, but perhaps we need a radical approach and those players who do not perform regularly would be better off somewhere else." While McClure was quick to point out that the club is not in panic mode with the division still wide open, Swansea's current mid-table position and inconsistent form in front of a despondent Vetch Field faithful will not be tolerated. "Promotion is still the most important issue on the club's agenda and Steve Hamer (chairman) and myself are far from happy with the situation. "Perhaps certain people need a kick up the backside because it seems we are suffering from a bit of the graveyard of ambition syndrome. "I hope people don't think the Board doesn't care because believe me it does. We won't get complacent in our aims and ambitions. "We will sort it out, I can guarantee you that. But changing the manager is not the solution," added McClure. |
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