Penney eyes gloss finish

Dean Furman: unavailable this weekend.

DAVE Penney wants to round off his annus horribilis on a positive note.

The Athletic boss, who saw his side at last confirm their place in Coca-Cola League One for next season with a home point against Southend last week, takes his team to Yeovil tomorrow before rounding off the campaign with a Boundary Park clash against Charlton.

After that, all eyes will be cast forward to next season.

And Penney admits he will have to work hard to bring in the right players in a summer likely to see plenty of incomings and outgoings.

“Nobody wanted to have a season like this and it has certainly been the most difficult season that I have had,” said Penney, who faces a Yeovil side not yet mathematically safe from the drop themselves on 50 points, two behind Athletic.

“In terms of results and position in the table, we all wanted to be a little bit higher than we are.

“There is a reason for that, which we know, so we just get on with it.

“As a manager you are always looking at players, whether it be loans or those coming out of contract.

“There are always issues — can you afford them, do they want to relocate to this area — and I will sit down with the owners after the last game of the season to find out what the budget will be as that has a big bearing on it.

“Nothing is set in stone but we are fully aware of what is out there.”

Penney also emphasised that he would not be experimenting too much over the final two matches of the season out of respect for the other teams involved.

That means striker Tom Eaves and winger Kirk Millar may have to settle for appearances from the substitutes’ bench once again, which could also feature returning duo Chris Taylor and Jim Goodwin.

“We have got to do things right and we will do for the last two games,” added Penney.

“Young Kirk and Tom are in there on merit and it isn’t just giving young kids a game.

“If we decide to play them it will be for that reason.

“We are getting a few players back with Chris Taylor getting 60 minutes and Jim Goodwin 45 minutes in the reserves.

“It is nice to have them back in the squad, which is probably the strongest we have had in terms of bodies.”

Dean Furman misses out on the long trip to Somerset with a knee injury, picked up against MK Dons, which has required an injection this week to settle some soreness.




Yeovil boss Terry Skiverton needs a draw to be all-but safe from the drop as a result of superior goal difference, but is without loan midfielder Shaun MacDonald who has returned to Swansea due to injury.



The Glovers travel to Brighton next weekend in their final game of the season.




Latics squad



Athletic (from): Flahavan, Lee, Hazell, Gregan, Black, Smalley, Worthington, Stephens, Marrow, Guy, Whitaker; Abbott, Eaves, Brill, Aljofree, Lomax, Millar, Colbeck, Brooke, Taylor, Goodwin.