Shez has tunnel vision

John Sheridan

ATHLETIC manager John Sheridan says he is completely unaffected by talk that Bolton may make a move for him to become their new manager.

Speaking at the press conference to preview the penultimate game of the season at Millwall, the man responsible for reviving Athletic's fortunes stressed he is simply concentrating on the task in hand.

Sheridan wants to try to win at The Den and at home on the final day against Coventry, to end a turbulent campaign on a high.

With safety assured with two matches to spare, he also stated that he has made his mind up already on which current players will and won't be offered new deals for 2016-17.

INTEREST

"That's all they are, rumours," was Sheridan's reply, when asked about Bolton's reported interest. "You lads (the club's media team and the Chronicle) probably know more than I know.

"I am just getting on with the job and haven't heard anything. I just want to concentrate on thinking about what I want to bring in for next season, player-wise, and on winning at Millwall and then against Coventry.

"The good thing is, we have done it with two games to go rather than it going to the line.

"That's credit to the players and it gives me breathing space to think about who I will be talking to and offering contracts."

Lee Croft hopes to shake off an ankle injury to make a fourth straight appearance and there could be a further opportunity for youngsters like George Edmundson to prove their worth.

However, it is too late for those men Sheridan has already chosen to let go.

"I don't think (performances in) these two games will change my mind. I have made decisions," Sheridan added.

PERSUADE

"There are one or two who I think have something in their game who might figure a lot more if I can persuade them to stay, even though they may not have figured while I have been here."

Aaron Amadi-Holloway has this week been linked with Rangers and clubs in the Championship and there is also reported interest in another player who impressed on loan with Athletic this season, Matt Palmer.

Sheridan said that if it was possible to strike deals with that duo for next term, he would closely examine it.

“They both did really well for me and if there was a chance, I would definitely be interested,” he said.

“It would be daft to say no.

ATTRIBUTES

“Matt Palmer has the attributes to play with good footballers around him.

“He is very intelligent and it doesn’t surprise me Championship clubs are watching him.

“I feel that Aaron has still got a lot to learn.

“He has come from Wycombe and wasn’t figuring too much, as Matt wasn’t at Burton.”

Athletic (probable, 3-5-2): Coleman; Edmundson, Gerrard, B Wilson; Dummigan, Kelly, Winchester, Dieng, Holmes-Dennis; Main, Forte. Subs (from): Cornell, Brown, Mills, J Wilson, Jones, Tuohy, Cassidy, Poleon, Croft.