Gerrard is unsung hero, says Corney

TEAM ETHIC; Tony Philliskirk (left) may be calling the shots, but assistant Paul Gerrard (right) is playing a vital role too says Simon Corney.

ATHLETIC caretaker manager Tony Philliskirk is getting the help he needs to dig the team out of their npower League One hole.

So says chairman Simon Corney - who has highlighted several unsung heroes behind the scenes in recent weeks.

The club's head of youth, Philliskirk is a reluctant figurehead. Corney stressed that other members of the backroom staff at Boundary Park deserve pats on the back too - none more so than Philliskirk's right-hand man, Paul Gerrard.

“Tony is ably assisted,” said Corney. “Paul Murray is handling the reserves and Cliff Byrne is helping out with coaching.

“Paul Gerrard has been fantastic and Tony is the first to tell me he couldn’t do it without him.

“You have got Ged (Coyne), our unofficial kit man, who has been fantastic as well. And there are experienced guys like Chris Iwelumo who have been great in passing on their knowledge as well.

“Tony isn’t doing it on his own - he tells me that, so I am comfortable passing that information on.”

Murray, who has yet to feature for the first team since his return to the club, was player-coach as Athletic's reserves went down fighting in a 2-1 defeat at Tranmere last night.



ATHLETIC’S game at Preston will now take place on Tuesday, April 9 (7.45pm kick-off).



A change of date for the npower League One match at Deepdale had been forced by a clash with the FA Cup fifth-round replay with Everton.



REFEREE Michael Oliver will take charge of Athletic's FA Cup fifth-round replay against Everton at Goodison Park on Tuesday night.

His assistants will be Peter Kirkup and Lee Betts, with Michael Jones the fourth official.



FROST covers are on the Boundary Park pitch in order to ensure Saturday's game against Portsmouth goes ahead as planned. The sub-zero temperature overnight prompted the move, but no problems are expected.