A tougher job than Gary may have imagined

WHEN Gary Ablett, former Liverpool star and respected coach at both the Reds and Merseyside rivals Everton, took his first step into club management at Stockport County in the summer, he seemed to have a real job on his hands.

So it has proved.

County, who enjoyed so much success under previous boss Jim Gannon, had also slipped into serious financial trouble in recent years.

They went into administration on April 30, and a proposed summer sale to a group called the Melrose Consortium is still in negotiation after the bidders failed to reach an agreement with the Football League on a number of issues.

When Gannon left for Motherwell, Ablett was appointed.

Edgeley Park is shared with the Sale Sharks rugby club, which seems to be very much the senior partner in the deal, and money is tight, to say the least.

Ablett is working hard to turn a young team into a competitive outfit.

In goal is 6ft 4in tall Welshman Owain Fon Williams, who graduated through Crewe's renowned youth scheme before moving to County two years ago.

The defence is built around the figure of club stalwart Michael Raynes (see Player To Watch).

On-loan Bristol City youngster Christian Ribiero, a Welsh Under-19 and Under-21 international, has been partnering Raynes, with former Reading and Mansfield defender John Mullins and ex-Chester, Hereford and Yeovil man Michael Rose at full-back.

County signed two of their former midfielders, Adam Griffin and David Poole, back from Darlington last summer.

Griffin is holding down a place in the starting line-up, with local boy Paul Turnbull, ex-Southport and Morecambe player Carl Baker and Liam Bridcutt, on loan from Chelsea, completing the midfield.

Up front Northern Ireland international Peter Thompson, a £100,000 buy from Linfield during the Gannon era, has recently been paired with former trainee James Vincent, 20.

For their 2-0 defeat at Colchester in midweek, Ablett included a clutch of teenagers on the bench.

An exception is Paul Gerrard, 36, who has enjoyed a fine career with Oldham, Everton, Nottingham Forest and Sheffield United, while Andy Halls is a 17-year-old trainee.

Other youngsters trying to learn their trade are defenders Andy Halls and Sam Barnes, midfielders Danny Pilkington and Greg Tansey, and strikers Tom Fisher, Nick Bignall, on loan from Reading, and Oli Johnson.