Hard work to pay off — boss

THE snow-clearing operation is well under way at Boundary Park in preparation for Wednesday’s home game against Tranmere Rovers.

ATHLETIC boss Dave Penney is hopeful that the behind-the-scenes graft put in by his star men can pay dividends when the team finally gets back onto the field.

Another freeze-out against Stockport County on Saturday means Penney’s men have now played only once in the last 29 days.

And while admitting he would far prefer to have the likes of Chris Taylor and Pawel Abbott getting in some game action to aid their ascent to full match fitness, it was a case of needs must when forced to train indoors.

“Chris and Pawel will have another two weeks of fitness under their belts, though it is not from playing games,” said Penney, who expressed his frustration at County calling off the Edgeley Park clash on Friday morning, despite a rapidly improving weather forecast.

“They have done bleep testing and track training and that has got them fitter.

“They need games and with the weather as it has been, we haven’t been able to give them that.

“I emailed or telephoned everyone in the country to see if they would play us behind closed doors. But there was nowhere fit to play, which was frustrating.”

Athletic now lie 20th in Coca-Cola League One, following Brighton’s 2-1 win away at Walsall.

That result only serves to increase the pressure on an Athletic side who face a first home game at Boundary Park since December 12 on Wednesday, at home to third-bottom Tranmere Rovers (7.45pm kick-off).

Taylor and Abbott may not be adjudged fit enough to start that game but Alex Marrow, forced to drop to the bench against Hartlepool last time out because of a head injury, and the dropped Keigan Parker are back in the shake-up.

Of the players still unavailable, Kelvin Lomax has had an operation on a hernia and should return within three weeks, Jon Worthington is back doing light running and Andy Holdsworth is engaging in gym work.

Meanwhile, Athletic look set to miss out on a player who was on trial with the club earlier this season.

Dan Gardner, a 19-year-old striker who joined Celtic on a short-term deal a year ago, is currently training with Crewe Alexandra after being released by the Scottish giants in the summer.

The League Two outfit are now in pole position for the signature of Gardner, who has this season turned out for Flixton in the Vodkat North-West Counties League premier division.