Painting by numbers

Dave Penney - shouting about cup rules

Latics chief blasts trophy rule

DAVE PENNEY has hit out at football chiefs in the build up to Athletic’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy tie against Accrington Stanley at Boundary Park tonight (7.45pm).

The Athletic manager is against the competition rule which states that clubs must field six of the 11 players who have made most appearances so far this season.

It has not gone down well with Penney, who blasted: “It is a stupid regulation, restriction or whatever you want to call it.

“Nobody tells Arsene Wenger who he can or cannot play in competitions.

“When we are told that we have to play a certain amount of people, it is rubbish, but if you don’t adhere to it clubs gets fined.”

Forward Keigan Parker has joined the lengthy casualty list after missing training because of illness.

Athletic are hoping the virus which recently swept through the youth team has not spread to the senior squad, although assistant manager Martin Gray missed the match at Brentford through illness.

Polish ’keeper Przemyslaw Kazimierczak could be handed his Athletic debut after being understudy to Dean Brill is every game so far.

There could also be starts for the likes of Kieran Lee and maybe even youngster Chris Rowney, who featured in pre-season, and teenage striker Ryan Brooke.

Blackburn Rovers have given permission for on-loan pair Nick Blackman and Alex Marrow to play, but it looks certain they won’t be able to feature in the first round of the FA Cup in November.

It is highly unlikely that Chris Taylor, Jon Worthington and Kelvin Lomax, who all missed Saturday’s match at Brentford through injury, will be ready for recalls.

Penney is not taking the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy lightly.

He said: “It gives a chance for teams in the lower two divisions the chance to play at Wembley and win some silverware.

“You have to take it seriously which I don’t think a lot of clubs do early on in the competition, but we certainly shall be as there is a big prize at the end of it.

“There is a chance to play at Wembley, something most of our players won’t have done.”
ATHLETIC (from): Brill, Kazimierczak, Holdsworth, Gilbert, Hazell, Gregan, Parker, Furman, Marrow, Worthington, Lee, Whitaker, Taylor, Abbott, Blackman, Lomax, Brooke, Rowney, Bembo-Leta, McGrath, Kalnoki-Kis.

ATHLETIC fans are reminded that the Detect All Chaddy End is closed tonight.

Admission prices are £10 for adults, £5 for OAPs, while under-16s are free, but only in the large section Rochdale Road stand.


Search goes on

MANAGER Dave Penney still wants at least one more loan signing before the transfer window shuts at 5pm today.

The Athletic manager has so far failed to persuade clubs to lend him players to strengthen his injury-hit squad.

If Athletic aren’t successful, they will have to wait until the market reopens for emergency loans next Tuesday to make another move.