Ablett chucked in at the deep end!

PATIENCE could be the watchword for Athletic tomorrow when they tackle neighbours Stockport County in their opening fixture of the new Coca-Cola League One season.

Athletic’s management are expecting crisis club County – who remain in administration – to employ tactics aimed at frustrating them.

They believe the visitors will play the same 4-5-1 formation they employed in their final pre-season friendly against Spanish side Real Valladolid on Tuesday night.

Manager Gary Ablett, the former Liverpool and Everton player, packed his midfield while Oli Johnson, normally a striker, dropped deep to play wide on the right.

It was a system which frustrated Valladolid, who play against Barcelona and Real Madrid in La Liga.

The Spaniards only sealed a 3-1 victory with two goals in the last 20 minutes.

It has been a difficult start for Ablett, who was appointed manager four weeks ago after pre-season training had begun.

He inherited a squad weakened by a spate of summer departures which largely stemmed from the club’s perilous financial plight.

Highly-rated striker Tommy Rowe joined Peterborough, James Tunnicliffe and Dicker departed for Brighton, Dominic Blizzard left for Bristol Rovers and Leon McSweeney went to Hartlepool.

Talented teenage central defender Josh Turnbull is set to sign for Scottish side Celtic, while the squad has been further depleted with the news that midfield man Matty Mainwairing broke his leg pre-season.

What makes matters worse for Ablett is the rule which prevents him from making any signings until the club comes out of administration.

And there is every chance that the new manager will not have sufficient personnel to be able to field a full complement of seven substitutes at Boundary Park.

Ablett is desperately trying to get special dispensation for David Poole and former Athletic player Adam Griffin – both free agents – to play on the premise that they have been at the club throughout the pre-season build-up.

Despite his troubles Ablett - who has run the reserve sides at Everton and Liverpool - is relishing his first job in senior management.

He said: “It is a massive challenge and one I am looking forward to as we have some very good young players who I have enjoyed working with.

“We probably lack experience and that is something I would like to address once we come out of administration.

“In terms of preparation for the new season, we feel we are a little undercooked and I could have done with another 10 days. “Sadly we don’t have that as we play Oldham on Saturday so have to get on with it.

“We feel we have prepared well and the boys have been fantastic.

“We all want the same thing which is success for County. It may take a little time, but we will keep going until we get it.

“Oldham have an experienced side and are physically very strong.

“It will be a very tough game in which we need to be on our mettle.”

Ablett has been impressed with the quality of the young players in County’s squad, which includes Welsh goalkeeper Owain Fon Williams.

He has been linked with a move to a number of bigger clubs as has striker Johnson, who was plucked from non-league football after being spotted playing for Wakefield-based Nostell Miners Working Men’s Club.

“We might not have the numbers but we will go with what we have, and I believe that is good enough,” Ablett concluded.


COCA-COLA LEAGUE ONE

TOMORROW (3pm unless stated otherwise): Brighton v Walsall, Bristol Rovers v Leyton Orient, Carlisle v Brentford, Charlton v Wycombe, Gillingham v Swindon (12.30), Leeds v Exeter, MK Dons v Hartlepool, Norwich v Colchester, Athletic v Stockport, Southampton v Millwall (12.45), Southend v Huddersfield, Yeovil v Tranmere.