I’ll sort it out, promises Sheridan

NOT HAPPY: John Sheridan

JOHN SHERIDAN made a scathing attack on his players after the humiliation at struggling Hereford and vowed to put things right.

The Athletic manager also apologised to the 703 fans who made the trip to Edgar Street and witnessed a 5-0 defeat (see match report).

Sheridan  described it as his worst moment in football management as Athletic’s promotion push from Coca-Cola League One hit the buffers.

He said: “Do the players deserve to be paid this week after that performance?

“Our first-half display was shambolic. Not one of my players was up for the fight and if I had started on them I would have been in the changing room at midnight. I would have ended up fighting with them.

“I will sort things out in my own way and, believe me, there won’t be a repeat.”

Athletic had been unbeaten in the league for two-and-a-half months, and Sheridan added: “I am struggling to explain what went on because we were unbeaten in 10 games, we were third in the league and should have been going out on to the pitch full of confidence.

“Did we look like a team which was third in the league? I am shocked by the result, but we didn’t deserve to get anything from the game.”

Sheridan added it is his job to get things right for Saturday’s visit of Stockport County.

Athletic captain Sean Gregan described the performance as “embarrassing” and said sorry to the fans on behalf of the players.

Gregan went on: “You can get away with a couple of players having an off day, but when it is nine you have no chance.

“Some of them had shocking games and I have not seen them play like that since I have been at the club.

“In fact we were quite lucky we were only 4-0 down at half-time as it could quite easily have been a lot more.

“The performance wasn’t good enough. Hopefully it was a one off and we can bounce back on Saturday.”

Meanwhile, Athletic are stepping up their search for a left-back in the wake of the hammering at Hereford.

Sheridan is pursuing a new target after his efforts to bring in a player, who was understood to be from the Premier League, ended in failure.

o OLDHAM Athletic Supporters Club are holding a quiz in the sponsors’ suite at Boundary Park (7.30pm) tonight.