CURRENT SEASON'S ARCHIVE page |
2 to 7 June, 2004
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2 to 7 June, 2004 |
Regarding the Accrington Stanley bid for Ian Craney, Alty manager Graham Heathcote [left], (on behalf of himself and Alty chairman Geoff Goodwin [right]) and, separately, Alty director Grahame Rowley have posted messages on the Alty Fans' Forum. These are in response to comments in the Accrington Observer (see below, news dated 4 June). The Alty manager's and chairman's text will also appear in this week's Sale & Altrincham Messenger. Graham Heathcote writes: "We have given Accrington Stanley our bottom line figure with add ons; they have not agreed the figures [with us]... Accrington know the fee, if they can't meet it, we will be patient". Grahame Rowley adds, "We have tried to be dignified in our dealings with Accrington and Ian but the comments made by Accrington have not been helpful in the negotiations. Let's hope that everyone can get around the table in the proper manner and discuss a way forward for everyone concerned". For the full comments follow the Forum link above.
Accrington report that "John Kennedy has flown to America with the England National Game XI squad... Also drafted up is Stanley transfer target Ian Craney. Negotiations for the Altrincham midfielder have now all but stopped, though may well continue later in the month".
The Worksop website says that "The new league's title will be the Nationwide Conference North. A new cup competition will be introduced also with all 66 teams of the North and South being involved... The Conference North have two representitives on the management committee, they are Brian Scothorn of Hucknall and Charlie Clapham of Southport". The Conference AGM has also confirmed that Ashton United replace Northwich Victoria in the new division.
The grass is now growing again at Moss Lane after the recent drainage and levelling work on the pitch.
Earlier, BBC Sport reported that "Ian Craney's move from Altrincham to Accrington has collapsed. Craney, last year's Unibond League player of the year, had agreed personal terms with Stanley. But Accrington chairman Eric Whalley says the deal for the 22-year-old has fallen through after disagreement on the size of the fee for Craney".
It is also reported that Nationwide will sponsor the National, North and South divisions of the Conference and that squad numbers will not be used below the National division.
Halifax Today reports that "Halifax Town have failed in their bid to wrap up a deal with experienced midfielder Kieron Durkan, who has decided instead to sign for Conference North outfit Runcorn FC Halton. Halifax boss Chris Wilder...said: "He's been offered a job outside football with the chance to play in Conference North so he's decided to take that. We earmarked Kieron as one of the signings we wanted to make and offered him our top wage but there's nothing we can do about it if another club tops that".
"Anxious AFC Telford United officials face a weekend of uncertainty after the crucial decision on which league the newly-formed club will play in was delayed", says the Shropshire Star. "FA officials were due to announce their result of seven days of deliberations to the club Friday... But lengthy negotiations failed to produce a definite conclusion, leaving the new club in limbo for a further 72 hours at least. AFC Telford interim director Simon Shakeshaft said: "The FA have decided they will have another meeting on Monday morning".
Hucknall's entry prices will be £7 for adults with season tickets costing £120. The club is seeking stewards "aged between 18 and 55, and a Lover not a Fighter. Rewards - free entry to games, up to 5 free pints in the bar after a game, and a superb bright yellow jacket" says Hucknall Town's website.
But "Runcorn FC Halton are pleased to announce that we will be kicking off the inaugural Conference North season in August with the cheapest gate prices in the league... Adults will pay £7.00, with Concessions paying just £3.50. Concessions next season will include the over 60’s and those in full time education. For the under 14s, the club will be continuing its revolutionary 'Kids Go Free' scheme next season, the only club in Conference North to offer such a scheme. Every child under the age of 14 will be admitted free to league matches if accompanied by a paying adult regardless of which club they support. The club will also be allowing students entry for £3.50 next season" says their website.
Hinckley, too, will be charging £7 for adults, whilst Stafford Rangers are probablt the dearest club, with entry costing £9 and a seat being priced at £11.
Burscough confirm that "Ashton United have been awarded the vacant place in Conference North... Ashton finished in 14th position in the league while Burscough were runners-up in the play-offs". However The Linnets are considering an appeal.
Whitby Town have released defenders Tony Hall and Adam Reid.
Barrow's Forum says that the Bluebirds' "utility man Kenny Mayers has joined Kendal on Unibond forms after only a few months at Holker Street... Goalkeeper Mark Thornley has also joined from Lancaster". Kendal are managed by Tony Hesketh, former manager of Lancaster City.
Worksop Today says that "Town boss Ronnie Glavin has brought a proven partnership to Sandy Lane, Peter Price and John Peachey, to make up his backroom staff. The three have worked together at Wakefield and Emley". Glavin added "I also intend to bring in a goalkeeping coach at a point nearer the start of the new season".
From This is Worcs is news that "Veteran Worcester City full-back Paul Carty is to have routine surgery on a cartilage injury... The left back is aiming to be fit for the opening match of the season but will not risk his knee unless fully fit".
Southport "Secretary Ken Hilton announced to the Visiter this week that the 'Port have pegged their season tickets to last season's prices and turnstile entry will also remain fixed with the club's aim to start the season with a 1,000 plus gate... Mr Hilton said: 'Our supporters stuck by us last season and we intend to repay that loyalty'", reports IC Sefton.
Kettering striker Jason Turner has moved to Histon. NL Daily also reports that "Former Northern Ireland international Jon McCarthy... is likely to depart Hucknall Town... Already Northwich Victoria... have expressed an interest".
"Nuneaton Borough's bid to sign the vastly-experienced Craig Norman from rivals Kettering Town has suffered a hitch after the player injured himself whilst on holiday... Norman suffered a recurrence of the groin injury which kept him sidelined for the last five games of last season while out running in Las Vegas". The Boro' manager Roger Ashby said "Everything is in place but we cannot sign him until he is fit, and he knows and understands that... Norman, a former Chelsea youngster, made 369 appearances for the Poppies and netted 79 goals in nine seasons, and is seen as the ideal man to fill the void left by fans' favourite Terry Angus" reports IC Coventry. Alfreton Town report that "work is continuing at the North Street stadium and a new water supply is being installed which will allow the Reds to open a secondary food outlet and a new toilet block adjacent to the Tom McRoy stand side of the ground. The club also intend having two new turnstile blocks operational for the new season which will double the current entrance flow rate [and, with other works]... will enable the Reds to seek a new safety certificate of around 3,500 from the 2,000 currently in place". The goal is "a national Conference ground grade before April 1, 2005".
Kevin Ellison, on loan at Lincoln City, is one of the players, along with former Hyde star Simon Yeo, "mulling over one-year deals offered by boss Keith Alexander last month", reports This is Lincs.
Also interested are Barrow, whose Holker Street Newsletter states that Craney, "the Altrincham midfielder, was a reported target of Barrow AFC manager Lee Turnbull but it now seems likely we'll be unable to match the lure of Conference football".
Altrincham F.C. once again made it through to the last eight of the Ladbrokes National Non-League Knowledge Quiz and were invited in the persons of Mike Garnett, Malcolm Riley, Andrew Timms and Kim Brocklehurst, to the Trophy Weekend at the Quality Hotel in Walsall. Illness prevented Kim from appearing and the caricature that is our national rail system did its best to strand the other three of us, but after some interesting adventures which need not detain us we made it to the venue in time for the opening rounds. Holders Forest Green Rovers overcame Hungerford Town in the opening game and then we were pitted against Havant & Waterlooville.
Circumstances dictated that we had to engage a late substitute whose knowledge looked adequate as he correctly identified Southport’s ground to gain us an immediate bonus point, but as he then named Moss Lane as the home ground of Macclesfield Town this advantage was soon lost! Indeed, only Malcolm managed to get an individual question right in the first round and we were at an immediate disadvantage against a well-informed South Coast outfit. We held our own in the team rounds but had to admit defeat 15-10 in the final analysis. Rye & Iden United and Winchester City overcame Hertford Town and Guiseley in the other quarter-finals.
After a break for lunch and an afternoon spent with half an eye on some football match in Cardiff involving one mob from the other end of the Borough of Trafford and another from a deprived part of South-East London we reconvened for the semis and final. Forest Green looked almost as good as they had done a year previously in overcoming Winchester and Havant & Waterlooville trounced Rye & Iden. The final mirrored that of 2003 at the start as the Conference club fans proved less strong individually, but unlike ourselves a year before, the Hampshire lads more than held their own in the team stages of the final and emerged victors by a clear ten points.
I suppose we can at least say as far as the quiz is concerned that Alty lost out to the eventual winners - again - but in all honesty the fun of the weekend is in the taking part, the camaraderie and conversation. The dinner after the final was full of good chat and good spirits.
The other element of the weekend was the Trophy Final at Villa Park on the Sunday afternoon. The much-vaunted Canvey Island were defeated by a relatively more limited but determined Hednesford Town, whose performance belied their lowly League position and suggested that the former Southern League sides we will be meeting this season will provide strong opposition.
The railway did its best to spoil our weekend by letting us enjoy the delights of New Street Station - and in particular Platform 10- for almost an hour longer than planned, but in the end we got home having much enjoyed ourselves in a number of ways. Our thanks to Ladbrokes and Tony Williams for organisation and to Keith Davey for his work in organising our own entry.
Mike Garnett.
IC Cheshire quotes Northwich Vics' President Derek Nuttall: "The fans have suffered enough. Next season won't be as bad, can't be as bad. Who knows what we can make of our future now. It is so exciting". The article continues, "There was even a section at the club who believed relegation would only be for the better. But the great escape actually means them being plunged back into a world where they were increasingly the poor relations - there will be 15 full-time clubs in the Conference next season". But Nuttall added, "You are always better playing a level you know and we certainly know the Conference. But the Conference North is an unknown quantity. There are eight to 10 clubs who could contest promotion and the play-offs and they will all be increasing their spending on the team". Vics' reprieve means that "those behind the proposed takeover of Vics have had to rethink their strategy though not their aim, although the Chronicle can report the takeover will not happen for a few weeks yet... It all means Vics are unlikely to appoint a manager just yet. The new regime would want their man in place rather than be presented with the choice of the current board".
Worcester City's latest transfer target is 3,000 miles away in America -- "but John Barton is confident of landing his man", reports This is Worcs. "Barton is holidaying in Spain while the Conference player in question is coaching in the States". Chairman Dave Boddy said the player "has been a top line Conference player in the last two seasons".
The Tameside Advertiser reports that "Dave Miller is warning his Stalybridge Celtic players they face a fight for a first team spot... Having signed Paul Sykes [from Worksop] and Dean Calcutt [from Accrington] to bolster the Blues' midfield... The spending may not stop there as the club have also been linked with a swoop for Radcliffe’s Tony Whealing. However, one apparent move, which Miller was unaware of, was the weekend story claiming Ross Clegg had joined Leek Town". Miller said "If Ross has left it’s news to me, he hasn’t spoken to me" but Leek seem to think otherwise.
Hinckley United have re-signed Richard Lavery "in a 2 year deal, after the sad financial demise of Telford United. The, erm, 'tough tackling' midfielder will be a favourable signing for the fans who have cried out for a replacement for Dave Crowley... Richard was part of the Hinckley team that won the Dr Martens Western League in 2001, before moving to Nuneaton Borough. For the past year he had been playing full time football in the Conference with Telford United". The manager said, "I feel he will be the catalyst for us next season". Hinckley also hope to sign "a former football League defender this week".
The Wakefield-Emley website records supporters' unrest at the Yorkshire club following the resignation of Ray Dennis as joint manager, (with Paul David), after seeing his own job advertised in the NL Paper. "Club chairman Matthews said he had no comment to make on Dennis's resignation". The chairman added, "It is with regret that our actions may have caused upset to individuals, especially those with the length of service and dedication to the club which has been shown by Ray and Paul David, but what we all want is the best for this club".
Copyright: ©
Compiled by John Laidlar