Poleon’s hat-trick response

DOMINIC Poleon: hat-trick for the reserves.

BANISHED striker Dominic Poleon has responded to club criticism in the best possible way: by scoring a hat-trick for the reserves.

The 22 year old was asked to train with the under-18s last week and was not considered for first-team action against Bradford - as a result of what manager Darren Kelly called a lack of adherence to professional standards.

Kelly has not yet revealed whether Poleon will be in his thoughts for the Peterborough home game on Saturday.

But as far as Athletic’s assistant manager Dean Holden is concerned, a player who performed well under his stewardship last season has responded to the setback well on and off the field.

Poleon scored three times in a 5-0 private friendly against a young Southport side at Chapel Road.

“It is exactly what we want from him,” Holden said. “He has had a bit of time away from the team, but he has shown a great attitude and proved what a good player he is. It will provide a real confidence boost for him.”

George Green played the full game for Athletic, George Edmundson helped keep a clean sheet at the back and there were useful showings from Rhys Murphy and Jordan Bove as the team hit the goal trail against the non-league side.

“The boys played well and it was good, expansive and attacking football of the kind that we want to see,” Holden added. “Three goals will be good for Dom’s confidence and Rhys Murphy and Jordan Bove both got a good 45 minutes in as well. Our younger lads did very well.”

Holden was frank in his assessment of first team performances in defeat: “From being a player I know how difficult it can be to get going if you suffer from a sloppy start,” Holden added.

“We want to be starting games at a high tempo. You can do all of that when you are 2-0 down. But without being too gung-ho, we want to set that tempo from the start, especially at home.

“We have lost the last two games and to be perfectly honest the performances have simply not been good enough.”



Athletic’s board is believed to be meeting today and is likely to discuss the fortunes of the first team so far this season.

The loss to Bradford was the first in the league for Kelly, but Athletic have won only one of their first eight games to date.



DONCASTER have sacked former Athletic boss Paul Dickov after a disappointing start to the season.

Chairman David Blunt made the decision to part company with the Scot, who had been in charge of Rovers since May 2013. The side won once in its first six league games and lies 17th in the division, a point and four places behind Athletic.