'Turn' back time

IRON BOUND . . . manager Stephen Robinson won't seek a replacement for Lee Turnbull (left)

ATHLETIC will not be seeking a replacement for outgoing head of recruitment Lee Turnbull, after he made his switch back to Scunthorpe United official.

The 48-year-old was present for the Chesterfield home game as the last leg of his duties and has headed to Glanford Park for a third spell as chief scout, a club at which he served successfully under Athletic's assistant boss Ian Baraclough.

Turnbull was heavily involved in Athletic's extensive player recruitment drive this summer. He came into the club alongside the experienced Sean O'Driscoll, who remains in place as a non-official director of football on a part-time basis.

The switch has come as no surprise to Athletic manager Stephen Robinson, who will direct the resources that have been freed up by Turnbull's departure to fund a full-time strength and conditioning coach in Dan Morton.

"We have known about it for three or four weeks now and Lee is from that direction and has worked there before," said Robinson.

"He travels two-and-a-half hours a day to get here through the traffic. Financially it is much better for him and it's closer to home.

"Lee was at the club before I came in and the work to bring players in was done as a collective rather than down to individuals.

"He is a good lad with a lot of football knowledge and we will miss him.

"But we move on and that's football.

"We probably won't put another head of recruitment in place. That was a necessity at the time, given the situation."

Morton, who has been working with the squad recently, will be installed as part of a package of adjustments Robinson wants to bring through to make the club more attractive to potential players.

"We have tried to re-jig our finances around a little bit and we will add a strength and conditioning coach on a permanent basis which adds value to the club," he added.

"Whoever is here knows we have a professional set-up and we are trying to add to the training ground at the same time.

"We have a Southern scout in place and will put a Northern scout in place.

"It won't diminish our preparation and we still have people in place, but not in a full-time capacity."

Athletic are back in action on Saturday, facing a trip to Coventry in Sky Bet League One.

Robinson's side remain 17th in the table, with seven points from as many games, following last night's 1-1 draw between Bristol Rovers and Walsall at the Memorial Stadium.

Erhun Oztumer opened the scoring for the Saddlers in the 16th minute, but Rovers levelled from the penalty spot through Matt Taylor 11 minutes later.