Royle eyes more new faces
Reporter: TONY BUGBY
Date published: 23 March 2009
Joe Royle watches his Latics team slide to defeat with assistant lee Duxbury
ATHLETIC manager Joe Royle is plotting more activity in the transfer market before Thursday’s deadline for emergency loans.
Royle wants to reshape his squad in readiness for the final push for promotion from Coca-Cola League One and held talks with Athletic’s owners over the weekend.
But any moves won’t take place until after tomorrow night’s league game at Cheltenham.
In his first few days of his second spell in the Boundary Park hot seat, Royle brought in goalkeeper Shane Supple from Ipswich and Cheltenham midfielder Ian Westlake on loan.
He today secured another month’s loan for Reading left-back Scott Golbourne and Chelsea midfielder Fabio Ferriera, who is in the squad for the first time at Cheltenham.
Royle is urging fans to “Keep The Faith” in Athletic’s bid for promotion. The home defeat by Tranmere on Royle’s return to the club leaves Athletic six points adrift of the last play-off place with only eight matches to go.
Royle said: “If I wasn’t up for the challenge I wouldn’t be here. I have not come just to see out the season.
“There is still a chance and we haven’t given up on the play-offs. We are certainly not out of it.”
Royle agreed a deal for the last nine games, but the sounds he is making suggest he may still be at the club next season. He said that some of the things he is doing are with an eye on the future.
Royle saw grounds for optimism, even in the 2-0 defeat against their play-off rivals.
He said: “There were some good things and it was not a dismal performance.
“We will get to know each other more by the end of this week when we will have a better idea of what is required.”
It will be all change at Cheltenham as defender Stefan Stam is suspended and Westlake is ineligible to play against his current employers.
Reuben Hazell has completed a two-match ban and will return in place of Stam, who will serve a one-match ban after being sent off on Saturday.
Kevin Maher, who was on the bench on Saturday, could get a recall in the centre of midfield.
Royle also has two injury worries. Chris Taylor was substituted late on because of a dead leg, but Royle is confident he will have recovered in time.
Danny Whitaker, meanwhile, is suffering from a sore thigh after a challenge.
