21th September 1999 

Sheridan not happy?
Garnett and Whitehall fit for Reading?

THERE was welcome news for Athletic today when both Steve Whitehall and Shaun Garnett reported improvements in their injuries. Whitehall, who looked in trouble when he was forced off with a twisted ankle at Bristol Rovers on Saturday, will almost certainly be fit for Athletic's next match. The trip to managerless Reading could also feature Garnett, whose stomach strain is feeling a lot easier.

The defender missed the weekend defeat and is due to see a specialist tonight. Also being checked out is young midfielder Phil Salt, who has been struggling with a groin problem for the last few weeks. Salt, who recently lost his place in the first team, had to be substituted during his last appearance in the reserves. Athletic reserves begin their Pontins League Cup campaign at home to Stockport County on Wednesday (7pm). 

New hope for Gumbs

ATHLETIC are still deciding whether to revive their interest in St Kitts international Keith Gumbs after a new precedent was set over work permits. Bury’s history-making capture of Indian striker Baichung Bhutia has angered Boundary Park officials as the player has been allowed to enter English football despite his country’s low standing in the world rankings. The Department of Employment turned down Athletic’s attempts to sign Gumbs because St Kitts weren’t considered to be of a high enough standard. Three appeals were also thrown out, but it seems the goalposts have been moved since the last bid was made to bring the striker from the Caribbean. The DoE has three main criteria for allowing non-EC players into Britain. They must have played 75 per cent of their country’s internationals in the last two years, be from a nation which is ranked in the top 70 and be able to “enhance the game at the highest level”.

Athletic believe they have a case on two fronts and are now looking into making a new application. Chief executive Alan Hardy said: “Firstly, India are ranked around 114th and St Kitts just lower so there’s very little difference. “We have also been told that the DoE considers the highest level to be the Premiership or first division, but Bury are in neither. “Keith’s record is also far superior to the Indian player’s and that should be a factor. “It’s all hypothetical at the moment because we don’t know the exact position, but we are back in contact with Keith and we will take it from there.” Athletic discovered Gumbs, who has been a prolific scorer for his country, when they played in the St Kitts Festival in May of last year. They clinched a deal after bringing him over for trials, only for the DoE to make its intervention. Gumbs has since played for top Greek team Panionios, but that brief spell led to yet more complications. In a wrangle which echoes Athletic’s loan signing of Paul Beavers last season, Gumbs’ decision to leave after not being paid for several weeks has provoked the Greek club into refusing any request to grant his international clearance. And it doesn’t end there as Gumbs impressed Bradford when the Premiership side played in St Kitts during the summer and it is still unclear whether they reached a deal with the local FA.

When Bury recruited Bhutia, who is the first Indian to be signed by an English club, they encountered different rules to those experienced by Athletic. Mr Hardy explained: “They were turned down at first and, like us, took it to appeal. “The difference from 12 months ago was that the appeal was heard by three independent experts with football experience, not just by the Professional Footballers’ Association, the Football League and the FA. “They could also have personal representation, which we weren’t allowed with Keith Gumbs. “Keith has confirmed that he is still interested in playing in England so, as we are looking to cut down our squad at the moment, we have to decide whether we can accommodate him.” In a country dominated by cricket, Bhutia (22) is far and away India’s number one footballer. He captains the national team, has 25 goals in 40 games and English soccer officials will no doubt be hoping that his arrival will encourage more British Asians to take up the game.

Midfield general in foreign territory

IN a career which has spanned World Cups, Wembley finals and over 600 matches, John Sheridan has never been in a lower league position than he is right now. And Athletic’s midfield maestro doesn’t like it one bit. The 34-year-old, who played at the top level with Leeds, Sheffield Wednesday and Bolton, was plucked from Conference club Doncaster just under a year ago. But, despite his own consistent form, Sheridan’s return to league football is currently being blemished by Athletic’s position at the foot of the second division. The former Republic of Ireland star, who won 34 caps over eight illustrious years, is the man most of his young team-mates look up to. He believes those relative rookies need only pick up a newspaper to find all the incentive they need to stage a revival

“Everyone looks at the league tables and nobody wants to see themselves bottom,” he said. “When you’re winning, everyone — from the manager and players to the supporters — has a great weekend. But if you lose everything is a bit down. “There are young lads here with the ability to go a long way in the game and we all have to keep battling. “Little things aren’t going our way at the moment, but we are getting on the right wavelength as a team and becoming more organised. “We played well against Bury and I thought we were the better team at Bristol Rovers, who are one of the strongest sides in the division. “Even a point here and there would be good for confidence, and it would also help the players to enjoy their football that little bit more.” It is a mark of Sheridan’s professionalism that, though the years are marching on, he has yet to miss an Athletic game through injury. He was voted player of the year in his first season with the club and still has the ability to dictate a game without seeming to break sweat.

Sheridan was also tried out in a new position last month, but he doesn’t expect his brief sortie as sweeper to be repeated. “That looks like being a one-off,” he revealed. “The manager wanted to try something new and I said I’d give it a go. “I’ve always been a midfield player so, once I’d played in defence, it made me realise how hard it is for the lads who are back there. “If you make a mistake you are almost always punished for it.” Sheridan’s most spectacular contribution to the current campaign arrived at Bristol Rovers on Saturday when he scored a goal officially measured at 44.9 yards. After letting the goalkeeper believe he would deliver a cross to the far post, the wily old veteran instead whipped a wicked free-kick into the opposite corner. He recalled: “I’ve tried that a couple of times before and I scored the same kind of goal for Leeds against Sunderland 10 years ago. “I thought the ’keeper was leaving a big gap so I asked Lee Duxbury to check with the referee that it was a direct free-kick. Once I knew it was, I just decided to have a go.

“It would have been a better goal if we’d won because you don’t really remember things like that when you lose.” Reminded that his brother, Wigan midfielder Darren, had scored from similar distance against Rovers the week before, Sheridan smiled: “Yes, but mine was better.” Looking ahead, Sheridan is already planning to pass on his skill and experience to a younger generation. He explained: “I’ve always said I might go into coaching so, when I think I can’t do a job as a player any more, I might go into that side of things. “I’m still enjoying my football so I’m in no rush and I know it’s a totally different ball game from being a player. “But I’ll be taking my first coaching badge this year and then I can see whether it’s for me. “I can give it a go and, if it isn’t, I’ll buy an ice-cream van!”