Robins close in on boss appointment

10:01am Thursday 10th January 2008

Managerless Dudley Town are closing in on a new appointment although it will not be before Saturday's home clash with Shawbury.

The Robins suffered a poor Christmas and New Year programme which has seen them slip down to seventh in the West Midlands Premier Division table.

The playing duo of Rob Perks and Ian Rowe have been in caretaker control of first-team activity since Dean Whitehouse and Dave Smith's decided to leave for Tividale while a new manager is sought.

Vice-chairman Steve Austin stated the committee had drawn up a shortlist of candidates and an announcement is around the corner.

He said: "I don't think an announcement on a new management team is far away.

"We are down to two or three candidates and we are set to discuss the issue at a committee meeting on Monday evening.

"Overall, considering the difficult season we have had off the pitch we are extremely happy with our current league position and we believe there are exciting times ahead at Dudley Town."

Austin also believes the club are not far away from a return to the Dell Stadium.

The Robins have played their recent home games at Lye Town's Stourbridge Road Ground and will continue this arrangement when they welcome Shawbury this weekend.

The temporary ground switch has been required while floodlights at the Dell undergo work to bring them up to league standard.

The new lights are now close to being fitted so a return to their home ground is expected to be given the green light in February.

Before Saturday's league clash the Robins will be in action this evening (Thursday) when travel to high-flying Midland Alliance outfit Alvechurch in the second round of the JW Hunt Cup (7.45pm kick-off).

Elsewhere Dudley Sports will be hoping to bounce back from their first home defeat of the season after going down 3-2 at the hands of neighbours Brierley Hill and Withymoor on Saturday.

Joint manager Neil Perks said: "Take nothing away from Brierley Hill they deserved the three points but this was our worst performance of the season and we will have to play a lot better in the weeks to come."

The defeat saw Sports drop down to fourth in the table so three points at home to struggling Ledbury this Saturday will be top of the agenda.

Gornal Athletic's poor season went from bad to worse on Saturday after they slipped to a 4-0 defeat away at Ellesmere Rangers.

Simon Williams will welcome Ludlow to the Garden Walk Stadium this Saturday (3pm kick-off).

Tividale boss Ross Hill will be looking for a positive response from his players this weekend after they could only manage a 0-0 home draw with bottom-of-the-table Bromyard last Saturday.

They will travel to Wellington on Saturday (3pm kick-off).

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