Gentle persuasion

Photo: Alan Howarth

INEXPERIENCE . . . Freddie Ladapo

CAREFUL man-management is the key to getting Athletic's young guns firing again.

That is the belief of boss Stephen Robinson, as he works his squad ahead of the Boxing Day test at Sheffield United with the aim of making the stint at the bottom of the Sky Bet League One table as short as possible.

Of the starting line-up against Southend, five players - Connor Ripley, Josh Law, Cameron Burgess, Ryan McLaughlin and Freddie Ladapo - had played fewer than 10 games at Athletic's level or above in the domestic game before this season.

Ripley and Law have significant experience in Scotland at Motherwell. But taking out experienced heads Peter Clarke (34) and Paul Green (33), Athletic's average age against the Shrimpers was just 24.

Robinson has not had the opportunity afforded to previous managers to bring in emergency loan players to shore up the squad due to the rules changes brought in this season.

He has been given the indication that the club's current transfer embargo will be lifted by January 1, handing him the chance to make changes.

But as far as the Bramall Lane challenge is concerned, it's a case of not simply berating all and sundry, but treating each case on its merits in order to try to extract the best performances from the available resources.

"If you hammer Peter Clarke he is coming back stronger at you and the same is true for Paul Green," said Robinson, who stated last week he is "99-per-cent sure" of one target joining provided the EFL embargo, in effect due to unpaid bills to rival clubs, is lifted.

"We have a lot of young boys who haven't played at this level and it's the first time they have come out of academy environments. Everything is great there - you are constantly told you are brilliant - then you are released.

"Then they come into an environment here where results are very important. There are different methods for different people.

"You can't rant and rave at them all the time. I have 'gone' on a number of occasions - I went at Walsall at a couple of people - but you can't do that every week, or it loses its effect.

"Sometimes, you have to cajole it out of them. That's where we are at.

"We can't click our fingers and make it happen or wave a magic wand. We have to keep chipping away at the small little things to make a difference."

Young winger Danny Byrnes has been released by Athletic by mutual consent.

The former Wales under-19s international (19) had been out on loan at Colwyn Bay and Ossett Albion this season, but is now free to find a new club.