Ablett To ‘Wheel & Deal’ In Crisis

County boss Gary Ablett will scour the loan market in search of a defender to halt County’s defensive disaster, with injuries ruling the roost in the back-line.

Michael Rose was shifted to centre-back on Saturday in County’s uninspiring trip and defeat to Walsall, while Adam Griffin came in to deputise at left-back. Both did reasonably well, but let’s be honest we need more quality than Griffin in the full-back positions. He is a trier, but…

Anyway, Ablett admits he will have to turn himself into a bit of a ‘wheeler & dealer’ to bring in a defender or two on loan, before the loan market closes on Thursday 26th November.

The County gaffer said: ‘It always seems to happen doesn’t it?’

‘Paul (Huntington) goes back to Leeds and then (Johnny) Mullins was a little bit stiff and failed a fitness test.’

‘Michael Rose came in at centre-half and did exceptionally well, as did Adam Griffin at left-back. I thought Adam did very, very well and he snuffed out the threat of Steve Jones very well.’

‘It’s a credit to us. I don’t think we looked lopsided in any way. Griffin came in and did very well and Rose stepped into the breach at centre-half and competed very well.’

‘We hope to bring someone in but again it has to be the right person.’

The former Liverpool reserve team boss also gave his frank views on the monetary situation, admitting he knows there ‘won’t be much money available’ and adding that youngsters are being dragged up to first team level who ‘shouldn’t really be getting a chance this season’, but that they have to be played to make up the numbers.

‘We’re getting to the stage now where we’re hoping to see some investment come into the club in the next two weeks.

‘I don’t think there will be an awful lot of money to play with even after that happens so it’s a case of wheeling and dealing.’

‘We’ve lost a lot of quality from last season because of the position we find ourselves in and we haven’t been able to go out and replace that.’

‘So we’re relying on young players, some of whom shouldn’t really be getting a chance this season if truth be known.’

County host Exeter this Saturday at Edgeley Park.