The latest column for Altrincham Today, from interim manager Matt Doughty…
Today is a big day, as I take charge of my first Vanarama National League North game as we make the short trip to take on Stockport County in the first of two big derby games in four days… it’s Macclesfield at home on Tuesday night in the Buildbase FA Trophy First Round, kick off at 7.45pm.
In the last 48 hours I have brought in two players. Kyle Brownhill is a left back, signed from Hyde United. I feel that we needed another left-sided defender with Andy McWilliams being the only natural left back in the squad and Kyle fills that gap nicely and will give us better balance.
Nicky Clee returned to the club yesterday. We had tried to sign Nicky about a month ago, but he opted to join Harrogate. I recently became aware that things weren’t working out too well with the move there and to be fair to Harrogate, they have been superb in allowing Nicky’s contract to be cancelled and enabling him to join us. Nicky is delighted to be back at Alty and everyone knows what a great player he is and his signing should give everyone a lift.
I had also put seven days’ notice in for our former striker, James Walshaw, but he has opted to stay with Farsley Celtic, which I respect and understand. Hopefully, supporters can see the high calibre of player that we are bringing in and looking to bring in to the club and I will be speaking to two more players next week to try to further strengthen the squad.
Watch highlights from the win at Blyth:
On the back of a terrific win in the Buildbase FA Trophy at Blyth last Saturday, we return to league action at Edgeley Park without Greg Wilkinson and Simon Richman who are both suffering with thigh injuries and John Cyrus has still not fully recovered from an infection.
Craig Hobson and Sean Miller will both undergo fitness tests ahead of today’s game, but I am hopeful that both players will be OK.
New signing Gary Jones, Clayton McDonald and Sam Heathcote, who has returned from his loan spell at Hyde United, are all available, so we have very good selection options for today’s game and we’ll need them as Stockport are going quite well this season under Jim Gannon and seem to have turned a corner, following years of disappointments.
After the game, the players are going for their Christmas night out but will be heading back to the J Davidson Stadium first for a drink in the Community Sports Hall and we would like as many fans as possible to join us, hopefully after a good result, from about 5.45pm.
We’d love to see you there!
