All change on the road

ATHLETIC have a different routine for away-day travel under new manager Dave Penney.

Instead of training on Friday morning and departing at lunchtime for overnight stays, the team leaves in the morning and then trains en route.

In the case of Saturday’s match at Bristol Rovers, Athletic stopped off at Cheltenham Town’s training ground.

Previously this season they struck up an arrangement to use Oxford United’s facilities.

Penney said: “I always went through this routine when I was at Doncaster and Darlington.

“It is a case of trying to beg and borrow what we can and call in favours.

“I believe it helps get the travelling out of the legs rather than sitting for four or five hours on a coach and then going straight to the hotel.”