Bara set to leave Latics

Ian Baraclough

ATHLETIC'S assistant manager Ian Baraclough is set to take up the post of manager of Northern Ireland's under-21s side.

According to reports, the 46-year-old has landed the job to replace Jim Magilton, ahead of former Athletic striker Warren Feeney and ex-manager Darren Kelly.

Baraclough has enjoyed success as a manager with Sligo Rovers and was in charge at Motherwell when they defeated Rangers in a play-off to remain in the Scottish top flight.

He was brought in by Stephen Robinson as his right-hand man at the start of this season and remained in his post when John Sheridan arrived, helping to stave off relegation to Sky Bet League Two.

Having seen off competition from Feeney, former Rwanda and Sierra Leone manager Johnny McKinstry and Port Vale coach Chris Morgan as well as Kelly, Baraclough is set to take up a post that Magilton vacated to focus on his role as the Irish FA's Elite Performance Director after Athletic's season draws to a close at AFC Wimbledon.

Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill was present to see Baraclough's Athletic earn a 1-1 draw at home to Rochdale that ensured safety from the drop.

The departure of the assistant manager leaves a vacancy in Sheridan's back-room team as he formulates plans for the 2017-18 season.

Peter Shirtliff, who left the club last summer following on from Sheridan's departure to Notts County, could be sounded out to step back in to the assistant manager's role. He is currently working as a technical observer for the Premier League.

There may also be a job back at the club next season for fitness coach John Harbin. The 70-year-old, who worked for Athletic alongside Iain Dowie, left his role on the Northampton staff back in January after manager Rob Page was replaced by Justin Edinburgh.

Meanwhile, Sheridan is set to ring the changes for Sunday's visit to Kingsmeadow (noon kick-off).

"I would like to give some people a game," Sheridan said.

"I don't like leaving players out and since I have been back, not one of them has given me a problem. Sometimes, when you are not playing it is hard.

"If I can, I would like to give those who haven't been playing - Lee Croft, Ryan Flynn, Aiden O'Neill, Josh Law and George Edmundson, for example - a chance.

"They have all, 100-per-cent, trained properly. Luckily for me, the team has been doing well and picking it hasn't been too much of a problem."

Port Vale gave themselves a fighting chance of avoiding relegation with a 1-0 win at Walsall last night.

Chris Eagles scored a superb 85th-minute winning goal and the result means that neither Bury nor Gillingham are yet safe.

Vale host Fleetwood on the last day, Gillingham travel to Northampton and Bury are away at Southend.