Anxious wait for ailing County

THE future of Stockport County, Athletic’s opponents this weekend, weather permitting, may be determined at a Football League meeting today.

The governing body’s board of directors will discuss the future of the club, who remain in administration. Any prospective buy-out needs to be approved by the league and County fans — who have endured a sorry time, with the club in limbo since entering administration in April of last year — will hope that the matter is wrapped up sooner rather than later.

Manager Gary Ablett is soldiering on at the club currently bottom of Coca-Cola League One, though he lost the services of three of his best players last week as a cost-cutting measure.

Carl Baker made his awaited move to Championship side Coventry City official, the 27-year-old agreeing a two-and-a-half year deal for an undisclosed fee.

Attacking midfielder Baker had netted 13 times for County this season, quite a tally in a side which has managed only 30 in all competitions.

The goalscoring potential of Ablett’s side hasn’t been helped either by the departure of strikers Oli Johnson and Peter Thompson.

Johnson (22) came off the bench for promotion-chasing Norwich City as they saw off Exeter City 3-1 on Saturday, having completed his transfer to Norfolk for an undisclosed amount.

And Thompson, signed by County for £100,000 from Linfield at the start of the 2008-09 season, has returned to his former club on loan. He had played in all but one of Stockport’s 28 games so far this season.

Stockport have lost their last 11 matches but put up a spirited show last time out, holding a 2-1 lead against Leeds United until the 67th minute at Edgeley Park on December 28.

Only two goals in the last three minutes won the game for the League One front-runners.