Sheridan facing selection poser

Stefan Stam: Hoping to return to Athletic’s starting line-up.

ATHLETIC manager John Sheridan has a defensive dilemma as he prepares for Saturday’s Coca-Cola League One fixture at promotion rivals Milton Keynes Dons.

The suspension of Reuben Hazell, who begins a two-match ban, leaves Sheridan having to find a new partner for Sean Gregan.

The two candidates are Dutch defender Stefan Stam and on-loan Middlesbrough player Seb Hines - a difficult call for Sheridan.

Stam was a regular in the team until Christmas when he strained a groin in the Boxing Day win at Crewe.

He quickly recovered, but has been unable to reclaim his place due to an impressive Gregan/Hazell centre-back partnership.

And with Stam out of contract this summer, he is desperate to get a chance to show he warrants being given a new deal.

It looks likely the Athletic manager won’t be able to finalise his team until shortly before kick-off to give injured Chris Taylor every chance of recovering from a calf strain.

Taylor was ruled out of the home defeat by Colchester and the initial reaction was that the injury would take between seven and 10 days to clear.

Athletic received some cheer on the injury front as striker Matty Wolfenden today resumed full training.

The 21-year-old had been troubled by scar tissue from an old thigh injury, but it has finally cleared.

Wolfenden has had a succession of injuries which have restricted him to only one substitute appearance in the current campaign.

Athletic are close to concluding their investigations into the trouble which marred a night out at Belle Vue dog track.

They are still waiting for further legal advice before deciding whether to take the matter further.

But, due to the gravity of the allegations, chief executive Alan Hardy has warned that dismissals are a possibility.

“Employment law can be complex and we have to make sure we do things the right way,” he said.

Athletic are keen to draw a line under the matter, preferably before this weekend’s match at MK Dons as they don’t want it proving a distraction to their promotion bid.


Athletic are delighted that the pink shirts worn against Leeds have raised £6,945 for the Victoria Breast Unit at the Royal Oldham Hospital.

The shirts were put up for auction on the Athletic website for the breast cancer charity and bidding closed yesterday.

MOSSLEY, in a run of six matches in 13 days, visit Skelmersdale United tonight in division one north of the UniBond League.