Royle back in the old routine

NEW manager Joe Royle is already plotting a couple of raids in the transfer market to try to revive Athletic’s flagging promotion hopes.

Within hours of succeeding John Sheridan, who was sacked yesterday lunchtime in the wake of Saturday’s 6-2 defeat at Milton Keynes Dons, Royle was on the telephone attempting to strike deals.

He explained: “I have been told there is a possibility of bringing in a couple of loan players and I have been working already by making telephone calls.”

Royle, who was in charge of Athletic during the club’s most successful period in the late 1980s and early 1990s, admitted it was an easy decision to come back.

He thinks Athletic are still in a good position in the Coca-Cola League One table and sees a Wembley play-off final date as a big incentive.

Royle has seen Athletic play several times this season and is familiar with the players he has inherited.

He said: “We have slipped a little lately so we have to try to get going again.

“Anybody who has seen my teams play will know it will be with smiles on our faces. I also like to see them get forward.”

Royle, whose last job in management was at Ipswich Town almost three years ago, is to be reunited with former Athletic youth-team coach Bill Urmson. He will focus on scouting and will compile reports on opponents.

Tommy Wright and Lee Duxbury, who were Sheridan’s assistant and first-team coach, will remain to work with Royle on the training ground.

Royle paid tribute to Sheridan, who had spent almost 12 years at Boundary Park as a player and later coach/manager, describing him as a “terrific servant”.

Royle was expected to meet his new players later today.

Athletic managing director Mr Corney explained why the club had to end Sheridan’s time in charge.

He said: “This has been very upsetting and a tough decision, but we have been in a bit of a rut of late and we feel this was the best course of action.

“John has done a great job here, and I am sure he will go on to better things.

“It was a learning curve for him. We are sad that he has gone, but that is football and we must move on.

“John and I had become good friends, and I would like to thank him for his service.”


Royle factfile

Joe Royle made his first-team debut for Everton at the age of 16 and was the club’s youngest-ever player until James Vaughan in 2005.

::Was top scorer for Everton in five seasons and found the net 23 times in their championship-winning side of 1969/70.

::After being forced to retire through a knee injury in 1982, Athletic gave Royle his first job in management.

::In his 12 years at Boundary Park, Royle won the second division title, helped Athletic spend three never-to-be-forgotten seasons in the top division, reached the final of the Littlewoods Cup and two FA Cup semi-finals.

::Won the FA Cup in his first season as manager of Everton in 1995, the last English manager to win the competition until Harry Redknapp’s triumph with Portsmouth last season.

::Guided Manchester City to back-to-back promotions and Ipswich Town twice to the Championship play-offs.