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2nd January 2002

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Oldham Evening Chronicle (www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk) Selection poser for Wadsworth
ATHLETIC boss Mick Wadsworth has a series of selection headaches for the FA Cup third-round tie at Cheltenham on Sunday. After achieving a hat-trick of wins over Christmas, Wadsworth must break up the side which would have faced Tranmere yesterday if the big freeze hadn’t struck. There will be at least four changes when Athletic take on a Cheltenham team who are also in fine form and have moved into division three’s play-off zone. Around 10 more players were already ruled out for weekend, so the strength of Athletic’s squad is being tested to the full. Goalkeeper Gary Kelly, who hasn’t played since the tie at Hull on December 8, will be pressed into service after recovering from minor knee surgery. On-loan Paul Rachubka has done well in place of the veteran, but Manchester United often use cup games to blood their youngsters and want the 20-year-old kept available. Striker David Reeves, however, is already cup-tied from his appearances with Chesterfield. Reeves has hit three goals in his first three games – all of them victories – and his absence will be keenly felt by Athletic. Right-back Dean Holden is another man forced on to the sidelines as he has been booked five times since joining on loan from Bolton. An automatic ban is now triggered and Scott McNiven, who was recently dropped for the first time since 1998/99, could be recalled. Finally, and causing more disruption to an in-form defence, Athletic’s other regular full-back is ruled out. Chris Armstrong arrived from Bury with two yellow cards and, after reaching the cut-off point, misses his first match. Wadsworth may be able to make up for the losses by bringing Tony Carss back into his squad. Carss is yet to play under the new coach due to ankle problems, but he has returned to full training. Athletic are set to take over 1,000 fans to Cheltenham and tickets are now open sale. Meanwhile, the decision to postpone yesterday’s game was made at 9am as the centre of the pitch was unplayable. The players had an indoor training session instead and a new date for the match will be fixed shortly.

TEAMtalk (www.teamtalk.co.uk) Wadsworth's Latics delight
Mick Wadsworth has spoken of his delight at the start he has made in the hot-seat at Boundary Park, and has stressed his happiness in the job. After 12 league and cup games in charge at Boundary Park, his side are seventh in the table, just one point off the promotion play-off places. They have lost just once and are also in the semi-final of the LDV Vans Trophy and the third round of the FA Cup. And Wadsworth said: "It has been enjoyable, rewarding, challenging, demanding, tiring - but all those things I enjoy." The former England coach is the first man to arrive at Boundary Park every day and later plans the day with his coaching staff at a morning meeting. He said: "It is an enjoyable environment from the moment you come into the club - there is a happy and very positive atmosphere." Wadsworth has plenty of Premiership experience to call on and still feels he was not given much of a chance at his previous club, Southampton. He was shown the door after just eight games as assistant manager and is now channelling all his energies into bringing success back to The Latics.
Wadsworth said: "If a club is going to have lasting success, then what we do in the next two years is very pertinent in terms of stability and strong foundations.
"It is easy to spend other people's money and I haven't come here to do that. "Lots of clubs have thrown money at it and end up worse off. If the team underachieves and the crowds drop, it doesn't take rocket science to realise you could have a club in trouble." Wadsworth added: "We are making progress and some of our football at times has been terrific without being spectacular. "But we have started to move up the table, we are still in two cup competitions and a lot of hard work is beginning to pay off."
Job link for Reeves
On-loan striker David Reeves is being linked with the manager's vacancy at his club Chesterfield following Nicky Laws' departure. The 34-year-old has become a firm favourite with the fans during his five-and-a-half years at Saltergate and would be a popular choice for the hot-seat. The Spireites are looking for a new boss after Nicky Laws left to take charge at Bradford City. Reeves, who is spending a month on loan at Boundary Park, has scored three goals in as many games for The Latics.
He will miss the next two games, in the FA Cup on Sunday at Cheltenham and Blackpool at home next Wednesday night against Blackpool in the semi-final of the LDV Vans Trophy. Reeves' loan spell is up on January 19, but he will be back for league action on Saturday, January 12 - at Chesterfield.
Robins clash to see changes
With Dean Holden and Chris Armstrong suspended and David Reeves cup-tied Mick Wadsworth is busy planning for Sunday's FA Cup tie at Cheltenham. The Robins are the form side of the Third Division having tasted defeat just once in their last nine games. The Latics will be without suspended defenders Holden and Armstrong as both sit out one-match bans after picking up five yellow cards. And on-loan striker Reeves is cup-tied, having played in the competition with his club Chesterfield.
Paul Murray was switched from midfield to right-back during the last game at Northampton and Wadsworth said: "He has played in that position many times and knows it well." Reeves' absence could see Matthew Tipton coming back into the starting line-up. Fans are reminded that tickets for the game are still on open sale with around 900 still available.

Contributions and letters should be sent to Gary Davies by e-mail at LaticsGary@ntlworld.comor at Boundary Bullet-zine,41 Verney Road,Royton,Oldham,United Kingdom.OL2 6AZ07786 928689Or in the Setons Chaddy end Row R Seats 67 & 68Boundary Bullet-zine Archive can be found at http://www.oocities.org/laticsgary.geo.The views expressed on this e-zine are not the views of Oldham Athletic F.C. nor necessarily the views of the Editor.This e-zine is a unofficial publication NOT sanctioned by Oldham Athletic Football Club.The editor will not publish any letters containing bad language.This e-zine is written using Microsoft Outlook Express and is best viewed with the HTML (rich) text option enabled.