New-look County out to turn tide

NOT so much evolution as revolution.

That is the state of play at Stockport County — on the playing side, at least.

While the club as a whole remains in long-standing administrative limbo, manager Gary Ablett has overseen a huge shake-up since the original Edgeley Park fixture at home to Athletic on January 16 was controversially postponed due to a frozen pitch - a full day before the game was due to take place.

By then, star man Carl Baker had already gone to Coventry permanently, with Oli Johnson leaving for Norwich — joined at Carrow Road last week by loanee Michael Rose — and Peter Thompson returning to Linfield for the rest of the campaign.

The exits freed up breathing space in terms of wages for Ablett, who has been able to bring in seven new men in the transfer window.

The Stockport side which lost 2-0 away at Southampton at the weekend featured six new players who have arrived at the club in the period after the original fixture with Athletic was due to take place.

Mat Sadler (Watford), George Donnelly (Plymouth), David Perkins (Colchester) and MK Dons trio Danny Swailes, Jemal Johnson and Richie Partridge all played at St Mary’s as the Hatters aimed unsuccessfully to arrest a run of 15 League One games without recording a victory.

Swailes and Partridge have both signed up on a permanent basis with the remainder of players brought in on loan, as was another MK Dons forward in Jabo Ibehre — back in contention for tonight’s game after serving a two-match suspension.

One player who will need no introduction to the stadium County share with rugby union outfit Sale Sharks is Jim Goodwin.

The Athletic player, currently operating at right-back in place of injured duo Kelvin Lomax and Andy Holdsworth, is to stay with the club until the end of the season on loan from Huddersfield Town.

The Waterford-born 28-year-old made over 100 appearances for County before signing for Scunthorpe in June, 2005.