Sheridan faces tough calls

Photo: Alan Howarth

IN FRONT . . . Ryan McLaughlin's cross evades everyone and goes straight in to the net

ATHLETIC may need to sell in order to raise funds for squad-building before the close of the transfer window.

That's the view of manager John Sheridan, who was so enraged at the defeat at Walsall that he stated he needs "five or six players".

In terms of saleable assets, Ryan McLaughlin tops the list, but the Northern Ireland international, who Wigan want to sign and who would command a six-figure fee, has easily been Athletic's brightest player over the first three matches this term.

Sheridan has long searched for a goalkeeper to challenge Ben Wilson and a new midfielder. The transfer window shuts on Thursday, August 31, at 11pm.

"That's probably one of the things I have to do as well," said Sheridan, when asked by the Chronicle if he needs to sell. "I have to make decisions.

"HONEST"

"If I feel I need people out, then I will be totally honest with them. Because I have seen things where I have got to try to get a team together.

"I do believe we have a good group of players. But we can't keep making poor basic decisions at this level."

The failure so far to bring in a second goalkeeper appears to be a source of major frustration for Sheridan, who is preparing to face a Wigan side who sit third in the early Sky Bet League One table after back-to-back wins.

"This is another thing, another goalkeeper," Sheridan added. "Believe me, I am not just sitting back and settling for one goalkeeper as it is going to bite us on the backside.

"We are trying to get one in. With circumstances, whether we can get one in I don't know."

One bright spot in the 2-1 loss at Walsall was the full debut of Mason Fawns, the first-year professional earning his chance in midfield due to his work in training.

"I threw him in and he has been bright," Sheridan said. "He did alright.

"He is a young kid learning the game and he didn't do anything wrong.

"It was little decisions that you have to make quickly at this level, but in the first half he did alright."

* FORMER Athletic player Tony Carss has been appointed as the new head of academy coaching at Blackburn Rovers.

Carss left a similar role at Huddersfield Town last week and returns to Ewood Park, where he was a youth team player.