First of the Chairboy's preview's

ATHLETIC are anxious that tonight's Manchester Senior Cup tie against Manchester City goes ahead as they intend to play two trialists. Richard Dunning and Martin Foster are both earmarked for the reserve team - providing the Boundary Park pitch is declared playable. Blackburn have allowed Dunning, a right wing-back, to turn out after he impressed Athletic when they say him play in Rovers' under-19 Academy side on Saturday. Midfield player Foster is currently at Doncaster Rovers, whose manager, former Latics man Ian Snodin, recommended him to Andy Ritchie. The 22-year-old Foster was on the books of Leeds United as a youngster. While the result of tonight's match is academic - Athletic and Manchester United have already booked their final place - Ritchie will be keen to see how the two trialists fare. Stuart Thom and Phil Salt continue their comebacks after lengthy injury lay-offs. Central defender Thom broke his shoulder in October while midfield player Salt is recovering from ankle surgery. Reserves: Miskelly, Dunning, Futcher, Smith, Thom, Salt, Foster, Boshell, Sugden, Walsh, Beavers. Subs: Whittle, Roberts, Rock, Wardle, Gardiner. The pitch was playable this morning, but further rain would put the match in jeopardy. Those intending to travel are advised to check first by telephoning 0161 624 4972.

Meanwhile, the wet weather is not making life easy as Athletic prepare for Saturday's league game at Wycombe. They have again been forced to train on the synthetic surface at the JJB Soccerdome at Wigan. Captain Lee Duxbury and defender Mark Hotte return after suspension but Shaun Garnett serves a
one-match ban and Matthew Tipton completes his four-game ban. The line-up for the Isle of Man International Football Festival, which takes place between July 22-29, has been finalised. Athletic, as holders, return to face the Isle of Man, Burnley, Bury, Stoke and Darlington. Scottish Premier League clubs Aberdeen and Motherwell had agreed to take part until it was discovered their league season begins on July 29 - the day of the final.

The Latics are facing a fixture pile-up, and if the weather doesn't improve the state of the pitch could prove a real headache. Torrential rain has left the pitch under water in several places, because it is just not draining away. Tuesday night's game against Chesterfield had to be called off and two reserve team games have also been postponed because of the waterlogged pitch. In the next two months, Boundary Park must accommodate at least twenty games, including four matches by the Oldham Rugby League club, who share the ground. Chief executive Alan Hardy has admitted that it will be difficult to fit in seven first team games, plus a minimum of nine for the reserves. He explained: "The main problem is that some areas don't drain particularly well. "It is far from satisfactory and we know the solution would be to lay a new pitch, but that would cost around half a million pounds and we don't have that sort of money." The Latics are also hoping to move to a brand new stadium within the next couple of years and are looking at cheaper, short term options. They have called in experts and they will
discuss the situation on Wednesday next week, prior to putting their observations to the Latics' board.

Thursday night's reserve team game against Manchester City in the Manchester Senior Cup at Boundary Park has been given the go-ahead. Andy Ritchie is using the fixture to have a look at two trialists. Richard Dunning, a 19-year-old right wing back with Blackburn Rovers and 22-year-old Martin Foster, a midfielder with Doncaster Rovers, who were both named in a strong Latics line-up.

Saturday's clash with Wycombe Wanderers at Adam's Park sees Oldham take on a side just two places and three points ahead of the Latics. If they are to
overcome the Buckinghamshire club then they will have to make sure they stop hot-shot Shaun Devine. The Chairboys have only lost one game this season
when Devine has scored and putting the shackles on the former Barnet hit-man must be the key to picking up points at Adam's Park. Wycombe themselves have
struggled when Devine hasn't found the target and Andy Ritchie's defenders will have to pay special attention to a player who has as much obvious
influence as he does. If the Latics can stop him, then they may find themselves level with Wycombe on 44 points on Saturday evening.

Wycombe Wanderers must face up to Oldham Athletic without injured stalwart Keith Ryan. The devoted midfielder - who has been with the Chairboys since 1993 - is a definite non-starter for the visit of the play-off hopefuls. Ryan missed Tuesday's 1-0 defeat at Bristol Rovers with fluid on his knee which caused swelling. It was sustained in the 2-2 draw at Cardiff a week ago. His omission means the starting 11 is likely to be the same as the side that lost at Memorial Stadium. Oldham's postponement of the midweek clash with Chesterfield means that Latics boss Andy Ritchie has four players suspended for the trip to Adams Park. Skipper Lee Duxbury, Matthew Tipton and Mark Hotte were all set to serve a suspension for the clash with the Spireites, but the game was called off on Tuesday night. They are now joined on the sidelines by Shaun Garnett, who also serves a one-match ban, leaving Ritchie short of options. Neil Adams is set to miss out on the clash also with a foot injury.

WANDERERS boss Lawrie Sanchez will decide after tomorrow's match at home to Oldham (ko 3pm) whether he needs to freshen up his threadbare squad with
some loan signings. He has no money to spend but is considering going into the loan market before the March 23 transfer deadline day. He said: 'I will watch the Oldham game and reassess after that whether we need to bring anyone in before the deadline.' Sanchez's squad has been cut to the bare bones as injuries have hit hard. He has been forced to play people out of position and the five players he had on his substitute's bench during Tuesday's defeat at leaders Bristol Rovers had only 31 first team starts between them. He said: 'It's like a casualty ward here at the moment. We've reached the time of the season where the wear and tear is starting to get to players.'

Keith Ryan, Paul McCarthy, Matt Lawrence, Andy Baird, Jamie Bates and Paul Emblen are all ruled out of action tomorrow and star striker Sean Devine is
a major doubt with a groin injury, while Jason Cousins and Dave Carroll have both been playing through injuries by only training once a week. The picture could be brightened soon with McCarthy having an outside chance of inclusion for the trip to Stoke a week tomorrow and Lawrence is hoping to resume training at the end of next week. Sanchez said: 'I'll have a look at the situation on Monday and see where we are. I might think about getting someone in on loan because there won't be any money before the deadline.'

Just how cash-strapped the Blues are was illustrated by the Matt Brady saga just before Christmas. Sanchez refused to shell out £5,000 for the youngster from Ryman League Boreham Wood, who eventually let him go for nothing. Brady has since had two starts for the Blues and is a regular on the substitutes bench. But Sanchez yesterday reassured fans that things are moving with the directors trying to persuade outside investors to pump money into the club which lost £250,000  last season. Sanchez said: 'There is plenty of activity behind the scenes but these things cannot be done in a month and there's a lot of talking still to be done.' He believes it could take up until Christmas time before the issue is finally resolved but is confident that plans could be advanced enough for him to be given room on his wage budget this summer to bring in new blood.