Tough calls for Sheridan

Curtis Main

ATHLETIC boss John Sheridan won’t confirm whether or not he will be trying to sign hot-shot Curtis Main on a permanent basis — but he will seek to make summer changes, including to the style of play.

On-loan Doncaster striker Main (23) has hit four goals in his last five appearances for Athletic, at the same time as his parent club have slid to a position where they will probably be relegated to Sky Bet League Two.

Main remains under contract with Rovers for another season. But while Athletic might test the water to see if he can be signed for 2016-17, for the time being Sheridan wants him to fire in the goals that will rubber-stamp the club’s League One status.

“Curtis has done really well and I am sure he will want to carry on in the same vein, continuing to score goals and benefiting the team,” said Sheridan, whose side will be safe from relegation with a win at home to bottom club Crewe tomorrow.

“But there are loads of decisions to make and I won’t be openly going into it at this moment in time.”

While pleased with the form that has steered Athletic away from trouble, Sheridan knows he faces a summer of tough decisions.

And as soon as the club are officially safe, the planning process will begin.

“If you look at the stats it is not too bad at all, but next season is a different story,” said the manager.

DECISIONS

“We will have to make the right decisions and we will be letting players go and bringing players in.

“When I came in, it was a case of hitting the ground running. Next season will be a chance to put my own stamp on it.

“Touch wood, if we do stay up then there is certainly no respite for me. Preparations start again straight away for next season.

“I want that belief that we can move forward and push for the top.”

Sheridan also spoke of his conviction from the off that he could revive fortunes from a once-perilous league position, maintaining a status that is important financially.

“It was massively important that the club stayed in this division for a number of reasons,” he added. “It is beneficial costs-wise with it being mainly Northern-based and there are bigger clubs involved as well.

“It is very important and that is why Simon Corney (chairman) brought me back.

“I always believed that I could do it and I have to give a lot of credit to the players. In difficult circumstances, they have given me everything I could have asked of them.

“The support has been unbelievable and now we have to look to carry it on.

“We are finishing well and people will expect us to carry that on into next season.”

James Wilson (ankle), Carl Winchester (knee) and Mike Jones (ribs) will be checked before tomorrow’s game, with a number of other players also carrying minor knocks.

Athletic (probable, 4-2-3-1): Coleman; B Wilson, Edmundson, Gerrard, Holmes-Dennis; Kelly, Dieng; Dummigan, Croft, Forte; Main. Subs (from): Cornell, Brown, J Wilson, Mills, Winchester, Jones, Tuohy, Poleon, Cassidy.

FORMER Athletic loan right-back Reece Wabara was named in the PFA team of the year for Sky Bet League One, as one of four Wigan players in the XI.

Team: McLaughlin (Burton), Wabara (Wigan), Egan (Gillingham), Morgan (Wigan), Henry (Walsall), Wildschut (Wigan), Dack (Gillingham), Sawyers (Walsall), Duffy (Burton), Grigg (Wigan), Armstrong (Coventry).