Joe bows out — maybe for good

RYAN BROOKE: Shows promise

JOE ROYLE admits that tomorrow’s match at Walsall is likely to be his last in management.

But the 60-year-old Latics legend could bow out by helping to launch the career of one of the club’s promising youngsters.

Royle, in charge for the ninth and final time as caretaker boss, is set to hand a first-team debut to 17-year-old striker Ryan Brooke, who recently signed his first professional contract.

Said Royle: “Ryan will be involved. When we do finishing practice, he is probably our most prolific goalscorer in the club.

“He knows where the goal is and, while you can teach that to a certain extent, he has that innate sense of where those two sticks are.

“He has potential and he will go away with a programme from the physio to work on during the summer to come back a stronger boy.”

ATHLETIC (from): Crossley, Fleming, Eardley, Gregan, Hazell, Lomax, Jones, Black, Lee, Whitaker, Allott, Maher, Westlake, Alessandra, Smalley, Wolfenden, Brooke.

Of his own situation, Royle reckons tomorrow’s match is likely to be his last in management, though he admitted you can never say never.

“I have already retired three times before, and here I am again,” he said.