The Third Degree - 18th February 2004

WEEK ENDING February 18 2004

Boston = Boston manager Neil Thompson and chief executive Dave Pickett have been sacked by new owner John Sotnick - just two days after he took control of the club. Jim Rodwell has been appointed caretaker manager although he is unlikely to apply for the role full-time. Graham Potter has left York Street to sign for Division 3 rivals, Macclesfield Town. Temporary manager Jim Rodwell insists his players were not distracted by the club's takeover in the 1-0 defeat at Cheltenham. "I'm not sure what the players were prepared for but they are professional players, with the emphasis on professional, and got on with their job and did what we asked them to do."Bristol Rovers = Bristol Rovers caretaker boss Phil Bater ordered his players in for Sunday training after a gutless display in the 3-0 defeat by Darlington. "We lacked the passion I associate with Bristol Rovers and our heads dropped after conceding that opening goal," he said. "Our fans had a perfect right to have a go at the players and myself at the end. We ere limp up front, lacked invention and didn't have enough strong characters. There were no excuses."Bury = Bury duo Glynn Garner and Chris Porter have both signed extensions to their contracts at Gigg Lane. The duo will both now stay at the Division Three club until June 2005. Bury manager Graham Barrow was in an apologetic mood, despite the Shakers recording a 1-0 victory at home to Cambridge United. "That's the worst we've played this season, we were awful. You don't go out intending to play like that, but I'd like to apologise to the spectators for that performance."Cambridge = Darlington midfielder has signed for Cambridge on loan for a month. Player-manager John Taylor felt his side deserved better following a gritty performance in their 1-0 defeat against Bury. "I'm proud of my team for the way they played in the second half. We gave everything but just couldn't force an equaliser."Carlisle = Carlisle United's survival hopes have been boosted by the news that striker Richie Foran does not require surgery on an ankle injury and boss Paul Simpson insisted his side had dropped two points rather than gained one after their draw with Hull. He said: "We are annoyed and disappointed because we felt we should have had three points we had them on the ropes and didn't kill them off."Cheltenham = Stoke City midfielder Karl Henry is to stay with Cheltenham for at least another month. Manager John Ward has confirmed that Shane Duff's knee injury is not as bad as was initially feared a scan has shown that Duff suffered only bruising and he will be out of action for weeks rather than months. John Ward believes his side are firmly on the up after their win over Boston. "We've done brilliantly. We've worked hard as a group of players to get the right results despite missing Damian Spencer, Bob Taylor and Brian Wilson." Captain John Finnigan has signed a new deal with Cheltenham that will keep him at Whaddon Road until the end of the 2005/06 season.Darlington = Cash-strapped Darlington have been handed a lifeline after administrators confirmed they have received a formal offer to buy the club by Irish Businessman Des Kelly. Former Carlisle boss Roddy Collins has been linked to replace David Hodgson as manager. Manager David Hodgson hailed a super-strike from defender Craig Liddle that helped his side to a 3-0 victory over Bristol Rovers. "We have been playing well without getting the goals when it mattered. Craig has come up with something really special, but a few weeks ago the ball would probably have come back off the crossbar. He scores quite a few goals for a central defender, but none like that!"Doncaster = Manager Dave Penney was a relieved man after Doncaster made hard work of it against relegation-threatened Macclesfield. "We are not on the top of our game by any stretch of the imagination. But we keep grinding out results and Gregg Blundell's goal was worthy of winning any game." Doncaster have signed New Zealand international right-back David Mulligan on a week-to-week deal.Huddersfield = Huddersfield Town boss Peter Jackson has extended the contract of young striker Nat Brown. The new deal will keep him at Huddersfield until 2006. The Terriers won 1-0 on Saturday against Torquay and Boss Peter Jackson said, "|We did not create many chances today, but you saw at the end that the players were throwing themselves in front of the ball to defend our goal. Two players went down injured defending with their lives."Hull = Hull City goalkeeper Alan Fettis has agreed to extend his loan spell with Sheffield United to a third month. Manager Peter Taylor felt that his side should have taken all three points from Brunton Park, as the Tigers were held 1-1 by bottom side Carlisle United. "Our chances were better and I think we deserved to win, Carlisle played well but I am disappointed with some of our play. It's difficult to come here, they are in good form and they've given themselves a chance of survival."Kidderminster = Striker Ian Foster has joined the Harriers on loan from Conference club Chester City. boss Jan Molby was left fuming at referee Tony Bates after he awarded two penalties in their 3-0 defeat against Southend. "The referee alone knows why he gave Southend their first penalty because no-one else can understand why. The second he only awarded after spotting the fourth official waving his flag."Leyton Orient = Leyton Orient have released youngsters Graeme Butler and Phil Holder and Ling has yet to decide the future of promising Ross Wareham and Matthew Game. Former Ipswich town midfielder Erdem Artun has been given a two week trial by Orient.Lincoln = Paul Smith has been forced to retire through injury at the age of 28, the right sided player made his final appearance for City in Cardiff at the Millennium Stadium in May. A recurrence of a previous back injury ruled him out for this season, and he has been forced to retire on doctors advice. Boss Keith Alexander has been linked to the vacant manager's job at Grimsby.Macclesfield = John Askey has taken midfielder Paul Rickers on trial from Northampton Town. Matt Haddrell has left the Moss Rose and has signed for Leek Town. Macclesfield Town have signed Paul Harsley, after the midfielder had his contract terminated by Northampton Town, and Boston United defender Graham Potter. John Askey has not given up hope of beating the drop as he prepares Macclesfield for a crucial part of the season. The Silkmen, who slipped into the relegation zone following Saturday's defeat by Doncaster. "We have some important games coming up and I'm still confident we can beat the drop."Mansfield = Boss Keith Curle believes Liam Lawrence is returning to his best form now that talk of a potential move to Rotherham has died down. Lawrence inspired the Stags to a well-deserved 2-1 victory at York "It was probably what the game was crying out for, that little bit of quality that Liam has got. Liam's back and focused. It hasn't been easy for him and it's not been something that has been taken lightly because we understand the anxieties that Liam has had."Northampton = Trinidad and Tobago international striker Cornell Glenn has delayed a trial with Northampton Town in order to play in two friendlies for his country. Cobblers midfielder Paul Harsley has left Northampton Town after his contract was terminated. boss Colin Calderwood hailed the battling qualities of his side as they came from behind to beat Rochdale 3-1. "It was hard work for us and one mistake cost us the early goal. But I was delighted with our response and we've reaped the benefit from some good set-plays." Also Colin Calderwood has said that he wants to extend Magno Vieira's loan spell at the Sixfields Stadium. Vieira's month with the Cobblers has ended but Calderwood is keen to speak to Wigan Athletic manager Paul Jewell to see if he can keep the player.Oxford = Oxford manager Ian Atkins claimed his side 'were never at the races' as they slumped to a 1-0 defeat at Yeovil. "Yeovil were a yard quicker than us all over the park and on reflection I think our midweek game with Scunthorpe took a lot out of us."Rochdale = Rochdale's burly forward Lee McEvilly is set to return to Spotland after a month on loan with Conference side Accrington. Rochdale manager Steve Parkin has completed the permanent signing of Barnsley midfielder Gary Jones. Steve Parkin was left fuming at the sending-off of skipper Gary Jones in his side's 3-1 defeat at Northampton. He will now miss the Swansea game "The referee didn't hold his nerve in the second half under pressure from the crowd." Lastly Rochdale have taken young Oxford United midfielder Michael Alexis on trial at Spotland.Scunthorpe = Manager Brian Laws has extended Cleveland Taylor's loan spell at Glanford Park into a second month. A freak goal from Cleveland Taylor eased the pressure on under-fire Brian Laws as Scunthorpe came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw at Lincoln. Laws said, "If Cleveland says he meant that he'll have a smile on his face and a long nose. It makes a change to have a bit of luck with the goal. Overall I was pleased with the result. The main thing is that we didn't get beat. I thought we deserved the result. I thought we were the better side and we had two good chances in the first half."Southend = The Shrimpers have signed Portsmouth midfielder Carl Pettefer on a month's loan. Pettefer, 22, has not figured for Pompey this season and has made just three senior appearances for them. Southend United caretaker boss Steve Tilson thinks there is still room for improvement despite his side posting a comfortable 3-0 victory against Kidderminster Harriers. "Until half time I felt that we were poor as we gave them too much time on the ball, too much space and as a result they caused us problems, we just weren't good enough, our tempo wasn't high enough and our work rate wasn't good enough either. However, we came out for the second half and everyone has worked their socks off, from back to front."Torquay = coach Leroy Rosenior was pleased with the performance, but disappointed by the result, following a 1-0 defeat at home to Huddersfield Town. "Sometimes you just don't get what you deserve. Some people might think the referee had a good game, but I thought he got a couple of key decisions wrong and they decided the match." Torquay's have decided to scrap their youth policy at the end of the season. Gulls' chairman Mike Bateson has decided to disband the club's Centre of Excellence and youth team coach Hancox said: "I'm seriously thinking about knocking it on the head. I won't be going to another youth game this season."Yeovil = Yeovil manager Gary Johnson hailed the performance of striker Kevin Gall after the 1-0 win against Oxford. He was out of luck but he looked sharp and the goals will come. We knew we were up against a very good side and that we'd have to be at our best." Yeovil new boy Andy Bishop believes the Glovers are capable of winning promotion this season - and next. "Oxford are big, physical, and boot it, so, if they went up, they would struggle. But we play it about and I think we would be able to handle it easily in the Second Division."York = Lee Bullock has been on trial at Division 1 team Cardiff for a week and manager Lennie Lawrence weighing up" whether to make a move for him. Liam George and Leigh Wood have returned to training and are close to first-team returns. The duo have not played for several months because of injury but are now due to play a part in the closing stages of the campaign. York City player-manager Chris Brass and his assistant Lee Nogan have agreed extensions to their current deals, which were due to expire at the end of this season. They will now stay at York until 2007. Chris Brass admitted his side had been outplayed as they lost out 2-1 against Mansfield. "Mansfield just slightly edged us. Until the 65th minute they wanted it a little bit more than us and that's not right."

THE THIRD DEGREE IS COMPILED BY MATTHEW PHILLIPS

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