Martin Allen On Life At Whaddon Road

Last updated : 24 April 2009 By Thetashkentterror

Town boss Martin Allen
Cheltenham boss Martin Allen spoke to BBC Three Points West about how he is preparing the Robins for probable life in League Two next season, Allen, showing little interest in Carlisle, later talking about his team selection upfront tomorrow :


" Of course there is going to be an element of disappointment but I think that also over the last couple of months the supporters will know in the back of their mind that they have got something to look forward to. We have got some emerging young players and some of our other players that have really stepped forward. A good run that we have been on and the last few home games, and away games, the run that we have been on I think that they will be looking forward to the new season.

" The summer doesn't last long and there has been a lot of work over the last couple of months trying to get ready for next season already. As soon as it ends, well the work has already started quite a long time ago to be honest. There is going to be a lot of wheeling and dealing, a lot of negotiating and we have got to try to build the squad.

" The improvement doesn't change my thought process, I had very similar thoughts when I first arrived. I tried to make changes at Christmas but wasn't quite able to, and tried to make changes again towards the end of the transfer window and wasn't quite able to. A lot of players left, got some young players in, and it certainly hasn't changed my opinions, it has reinforced them to be honest, hence the run that we are on.

" We have got another board meeting tomorrow and I have got an idea what the budget is, but there are always changeable scenarios with various things. I have got an idea what the budget is and it has to be workable, it is not negotiable. We have to go out and find the players that fit into the budget. Whether I like it or not is neither here nor there, that is what it is, it is part of the job and that is what you have to get on with.

" Prices on players will probably come down towards the end of June and certainly through July when players haven't got clubs, and they haven't got other clubs. Then they start saying that they will take this or they will take that rather than at the moment they want this and want that. So the mentality does change then, and as I have said before, we might have to be waiting into that market to be honest."



" I have no idea how Carlisle will be to be honest. I was very proud of our players the way that they came back in the second-half at Crewe. They had a magnificent response to come back into that game and the fact that we were playing four upfront permanently to try to get that win. It was a magical moment at the end of the game at Crewe, the players and the supporters and all the staff.

" I was delighted with Paul Connor to get that winning goal, it was great for him, just to keep it going and get another win. How Carlisle are I have no idea, how we are, well I think that everyone has been pretty relaxed now here for a couple of months to be honest, and enjoying training and enjoying playing. We haven't had to play with any fear and the players have really stepped up to the plate and delivered and I hope now they do it in front of our own supporters, that is very important to me.

" It always important to give the fans the right send off over the summer, it is important for the players as well. It is important for all the players, important for all the staff, everyone involved in our club. We have brought some sunshine at last into some people's lives and we have got to want to keep that going.

" Then we have got two hard away games to come in the week, so it is still possible, nine points required and none of the other teams to win, it is going to be very difficult. That is a no-brainer but we go into it without any fear, without any worries and just continue to play as we have been, by trying to pass the ball.

" Jake Lee could play upfront, Michail Antonio, that is about it I think. They are both good players though, one is 17, one is 18, one has had a superb game up at Peterborough (Antonio) away and the other one did well against Yeovil (Lee) but it was probably a little bit too much for him on the day. "



" So we might give him a chance, we might play with Michail or we might just play with one upfront, or we might play with (Michael) Townsend upfront. At the moment it is a question of having to improvise and see what we have got, but we will see.

" We have got no-one else to come in, Alan (Wright) did play in the reserves in midweek and did OK. It was a difficult game to play in for him but he got through that, but with our left-backs, Yuri Berchiche has done well and so has Lee Ridley. We have also got Frankie (Artus) now that can play out on the left so we are sort of covered there at the moment.

" With Alan, with calf strains, you don't want to bring players back too quickly from them. As we have seen with other players, they have come back from calf strains and had them recurring and then been out for six to eight weeks, and certainly we don't want to put Alan through that one.

" We have improved since John Schofield came in, we also had a good run, and I am not going to say it in any detriment to John, we were also doing quite well when I was manager, coach, scout, everything, every day on my own. John Schofield has brought and added a lot more because it has allowed me to get out and watch more football matches. I haven't been on the training pitch as much in the last few weeks with the players because I have had to take in a load of football matches all over the country.

" He has certainly lifted the spirits of everybody though, he has got a very buoyant bubbly character. He is very lively around the training ground and his record in the past of player development with young players, especially at Lincoln, has been excellent. He has been a great, great help to me and it will be good if we can secure him for the future. "




In team news for Cheltenham boss Martin Allen has already commented on his lack of options upfront now that loanee-striker Leon Constantine has returned to Northampton, that player shortage exacerbated by Elvis Hammond being out for the season with a stress fracture to the ankle.

While again at the top end of the pitch Reading-loanee Nicholas Bignall returned to the Madejski Stadium two weeks ago after straining his groin. The other injury problems for the Robins being that veteran left-back Alan Wright has yet to return to full fitness from a calf injury, while Gavin Caines (knee) misses out again.

The referee for tomorrow's match is Simon Hooper from Swindon in Wiltshire, and he will be assisted down the lines by Richard Kendall from Luton in Bedfordshire and Roger Vaughan from Bristol. Meanwhile the fourth official is Mark Weaver from Halesowen in the West Midlands.