Fits the bill

Photo: Alan Howarth

THWARTED . . . Lee Erwin's attempted cross is charged down by a Wigan rival

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MANAGER Stephen Robinson is hoping to add Paul Green to his Athletic squad.

The 33-year-old played for more than an hour in last night's 1-0 friendly defeat by Wigan at SportsDirect.com Park, before making way for Luke Woodland.

Playing alongside Ollie Banks in the centre of midfield, Green has made approaching 500 appearances altogether for clubs including Doncaster Rovers, Derby County, Leeds and most recently Rotherham.

Robinson, who fielded three trialists in total including striker Arnold Garita, is a big admirer of the Republic of Ireland international.

He said: "In terms of experience, he does a similar job to Peter Clarke in the back four.

"We know what we trying to bring in and he's the type of player that fits the bill and hopefully we can sort something out.

"I think Ryan Flynn and Ollie Banks were different players with him in there.

"Players like him (Green) go unnoticed sometimes, but they are massive in what we are trying to do here. We'd love to have him at the football club.

"We have found our midfielder that we want, but we are hoping to do more business this week.

"We are trying to sprinkle another four players into the squad to enhance what we've got already."

On last night's display, Robinson said it was the best yet, from the back four through to the two men up top.

Athletic were unfortunate not to earn a draw, with Josh Law's free-kick hitting a post and Jamie Reckord forcing goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen into a smart stop.

'PLEASED'

"I think you can see we are getting there," he added. "It was light years away from our first performance.

"I was really pleased and it showed what we were about. The players we have brought in are starting to gel and the fitness levels are getting better.

"In terms of the back four, I think they looked superb. Peter Clarke and Cameron Burgess are starting to get a really good understanding. Josh Law was good and Jamie Reckord has been excellent since he has come into the football club.

"Billy (Mckay) and Lee (Erwin) are starting to get a good understanding up front as well and getting fitter by the day. Billy is ahead, because he's trained a lot more, with Northern Ireland as well.

"The players know what we are trying to do now, we are becoming a team that has to be very good out of possession and we starting to see things happen in the final third of the pitch.

"The pleasing thing is that we created a lot more chances, with a lot of crosses into the box.

"We've worked tirelessly for three weeks. We didn't look like we were 14 players thrown on to the pitch together, we looked like a team against a very good Wigan side.

"It's as difficult for the trialists as it is for me. We are at that stage where we are still looking at people and they gave us something to think about."

Athletic duo Brian Wilson (stiff back) and Marc Klok (thigh) missed last night's game, but should be okay for Saturday's trip to Grimsby.

FLEETWOOD manager Steven Pressley has resigned.
Former Coventry boss Pressley (42) had only been in charge at the Sky Bet League One club for nine months after replacing Graham Alexander in October last year.