Sheridan will get it right

NO PANIC . . . Athletic legend Andy Ritchie

ATHLETIC legend Andy Ritchie believes that his best-ever signing John Sheridan will soon turn the club's fortunes round.

Four straight defeats, three in Sky Bet League One, have seen the club get off to the worst start since Ritchie was in charge of the team in 1999-2000.

Athletic lost five straight league games at the start of that season, but despite being rock-bottom in early October, a young side featuring the old head of Sheridan in midfield recovered to end the season 14th in Nationwide League, Division Two.

Ritchie says that the current mindset has to be focused on getting the very best out of the resources available - just as he did when fielding a host of fresh-faced young players 18 seasons ago.

"You play the cards you have been dealt and you can't change them," said Ritchie.

"It's not possible to turn a two into an ace, so you have to think, 'this is what I've got to work with and this is what we have to do'.

"If you are managing in the lower leagues, you just have to accept it - unless you are managing a Wigan, or a Fleetwood who have a few bob.

"You have to work with it and that's what I did when I was there. I knew we had to work with the kids we had and I was quite happy with that.

ASSISTANT

"I knew I had an assistant in Billy Urmson who knew them all as well and who was able to identify those who were good enough and those who weren't.

"At that time, we did have quite a few who were pretty good."

Ritchie was on radio co-commentary duty for the season's opening-day defeat and ahead of the trip to Blackpool this weekend, he says that Sheridan might have to look at the loan market to solve the goal-scoring problem.

As it stands, with the transfer window shutting a week tomorrow, Athletic have only one loan player in Cardiff goalkeeper Ben Wilson.

"I spoke to John after the Oxford game and didn't think they played that badly, but they didn't threaten the goal," he added.

"That will be a problem for them as you need strikers to get you the goals and they cost money.

"Blackpool will be more of an even test in terms of where the clubs are and also the monetary situation.

"You don't want to keep harping on about it, but it's a massive thing. There are divisions within divisions right from the Premier League right down to the Conference and below.

"John wants to get people in and he's already said that. But it's difficult when you haven't got any money to tempt people.

"I think probably the way he will have to go is loans again."

Despite the difficult situation early in the season, Ritchie says that Sheridan and his experienced staff will not be panicking.

"I have massive faith in John," he said. "He was a magnificent player for me and my best signing, no doubt about that - though David Eyres keeps saying it was him!

"He has the credentials and he has done it twice before. He won't leave any stone unturned and he is very conscientious, as are his staff."