BY this time next week, ASHTON UNITED could have a new manager in position. Interviews take place on Monday and it’s understood that a short list of five has been drawn up including caretaker bosses Will Haining and Jody Banim.
Whoever gets the job is likely to be from Greater Manchester. For that reason, it seems that the Doncaster-based Mark Atkins is out of the running.
Robins secretary Andy Finnigan said: “The decision will be made by our club chairman, Terry Hollis, and his assistant, Steve Hobson. However, I’ve let them know that my choice would be Will and Jody.
“We had a great win at Stafford last week and the atmosphere around the club has been really positive. The players are upbeat and feeling very confident.”
If Ashton were to appoint from within they would be following something of a club tradition. Craig Robinson, Paul Phillips and Steve Halford were all Hurst Cross players before taking on a managerial role.
Tomorrow (Saturday) the Robins are away to Hednesford Town in the Evo-stik NPL premier division. Gary Gee and Adam Mather have moved on to Stalybridge Celtic and international clearance has still not come through for Jamie Tolley. Bobby Lofthouse misses the trip but will be available for the home game with Buxton on Tuesday.
Banim and Haining are speaking to new Altrincham boss Jim Harvey about making some signings, one of whom could be Adam Griffin. They have also put in seven days’ notice of approach for a striker playing with a Tameside club.
Alex Brown returns for CURZON ASHTON who are one of three Tameside outfits playing in the second qualifying round of the FA Cup where there is £4,500 in prize money at stake.
Midfielder Alex Brown, who retired over the summer, has returned after a change in personal circumstances. Manager John Flanagan says he is in good condition and in contention for a place in tomorrow’s squad to face Northern League first division club Consett at the Tameside Stadium.
Connor Hampson is back after recovering from a damaged shoulder, but Danny Shaw has a slight hip injury and will miss out.
On Monday, Connor Hughes turned out for the reserves and has resumed full training.
James Burke has completed his three-match ban and could feature for HYDE UNITED who make the short journey to Edgeley Park to play Stockport County. They go into the match having lost three of their previous four matches.
Striker Joe Pugh, signed on loan from Doncaster Rovers, comes into the equation but Phil Dean faces a fitness test and Marcus Day is unavailable as parent club Harrogate Town do not want him cup-tied. Dave McGurk and James Cadman, both of whom missed Tuesday’s Integro League Cup defeat by Glossop, also enter the reckoning.
Midfielder Adam Thurston has re-signed for the Tigers after returning from America.
STALYBRIDGE CELTIC travel to Witton Albion buoyed by the return of midfielders Callum Bagshaw and Liam Hynes. Bagshaw has recovered from the ankle injury that has kept him out for nine games and Hynes has returned from holiday.
The Bridge will be without Adam Mather and Danny Wilkins, both of whom are cup tied, as they look to end a run of five consecutive away defeats. Rochdale loanee Matty Gillam is also ineligible.
In the Evo-stik NPL first division north, GLOSSOP NORTH END welcome Ossett Albion with defender Nathan Kerr suspended. Midfielder Karl Jones, who hobbled out of the midweek Integro Cup tie at Ewen Fields, should be available.
Billy Hasler-Cregg is back from Altrincham on a month’s loan for DROYLSDEN, who visit Clitheroe. Lloyd Ellams, Luke Daly and Carlos Rouse remain injured.
Kyle McGonigle, Callum Warburton and Dave Short all return for MOSSLEY’S game at Prescot Cables. Striker Dougie Carroll has signed for Northwich 1874. “I’d like to wish Dougie well and thank him for the last three seasons,” said co-boss Peter Band.