|
PN
Just how frustrating has all this been for you today?
GA
Well we can tell you anything you need to know about the motorway because we have been up and down it twice for no reason. So a bit frustrated with all that but you have to deal with it, it is part and parcel of what goes on in football at this time of year.
The one place you would expect a game to be on would be the south-east right near the coast. Colchester unfortunately is probably the worst place in the country at the minute and that is where we were due to be. So nothing to do in terms of football tomorrow which is a bit disappointing because we were on a nice little run weren't we.
PN
Yeah, you have been training at Walsall today, is that right?
GA
We needed a facility to train, we were going to go to Peterborough but that was snowbound so we went down the other way down the M6. Fortunately at the last minute when we got the game called off we rang Chris Hutchings and he kindly let us use their training ground. So we have had a good half an hour and the boys have had a real good workout rather than just a light session prior to a game.
PN
In a way will you welcome the time off given the pretty hectic schedule your team have had recently?
GA
No, I would rather have played, it was a tough game but it is one that we were looking forward to, and one that if we could have got through again the confidence builds even more and it keeps the momentum going. So we would like to have played but a rest might work out well in hindsight, you never know, but sometimes it is good to keep playing and sometimes rest does you good. We have had no call on it but we have to take the rest now and see what happens.
PN
And will you be taking in a game elsewhere?
GA
Yeah, I am going to get my sheets out when I get back and find out what games are on and off. I think it is probably best left until tomorrow because I think a few more might fall foul by the weather come tomorrow morning. So I will have a look at what is on and then I will decide from there if there is one that is worth seeing and if it is convenient then I will do that.
PN
I should ask you about the latest on those contract talks with (Vincent) Pericard, (Tom) Taiwo and (Adam) Clayton, any movement on that front this week?
GA
We are hopeful that by Monday we can have decisions on all three. I think whether they are good or bad I think time is moving on now and if it is not going to happen we need to make sure we have got other options to go down. If they are going to be positive then that is great news for everybody and we can crack on with those three.
PN
And can you say at this stage how confident you are on one or two or all three?
GA
Well little Tom is just sat next to me, he has been with me all day so I should ask him shouldn't I while we are live on air. What do you think Tom? He has fallen asleep.
PN
That is convenient.
GA
In other words he is not giving us an answer, but listen, I think on all counts they are positive but I don't want to say a massive yes on them until it actually happens. But the talks I have had have been really encouraging and we hope to tidy it all up by Monday, rather than me second guess and give you an answer today and look a bit foolish come Monday. But I am really, really hopeful that we get good answers on all three.
PN
And with the January transfer window approaching will the immediate future of those three players we have mentioned there be crucial to whether or not you will be fairly active in the window next month?
GA
Yeah, I think so, I think if we get those three in it gives us quite a lot of strength in depth, it gives us quite a bit of competition all over the pitch. The squad with those three added to it is looking in good shape and results have been backing that up as well. So it is a bit of an unknown the January transfer window because you don't know who is going to come in for who.
Somebody might come in with a surprise bid for one of our players and give us extra money that we didn't think we would have, or we might have to fill a position that we thought was OK and we have to do something about it. So it is wrong to say that we are going to do this or we are not going to do that until the window comes up, and then we deal with it as it happens.
PN
You have been linked with a player in the papers today, York City striker Richard Brodie, someone who had a loan spell at Barrow last season, what is the situation with that?
GA
Absolutely nothing doing, we know all about him because that is our job to know about all these players. As far as I am concerned, we know him, we know what he can do and what he can't do. As for us being linked with him, then there is somebody telling me something I don't know.
PN
It is a busy and demanding period coming up, are you confident the squad has enough quality and specifically depth to cover any injuries or suspensions?
GA
I think so, we have got the likes of Bridgey (Marc Bridge-Wilkinson) back playing, Joe Anyinsah is back training, Paul Thirlwell hopefully by the end of the week is going to be around it, Richard Offiong is due to come back the first week of January. So once we have got them back and fit I think our squad is more than capable of handling anything they can throw at it.
As the results have shown over the last six to eight weeks, we are on the right lines and I think some people would like change for the sake of change. But sometimes you have got to be loyal to the players you have got and if you feel the need to get something else to make things better or different then we will do that. But I think at the minute we are looking in reasonable condition.
PN
And you have got the job of making sure your players take it easy on the festive celebrations between now and Boxing Day.
GA
Well, listen, they know what is at stake so you do what you can do. I can't babysit them 24-7 so you are hoping that the message they have got has been understood and we will find out on Boxing Day whether they have done that or not. But they are a good group of lads who I trust immensely and hopefully not one of them steps out of line, they look after themselves and we get a good Christmas under our belt.
PN
Do the coaching staff get an exemption from that?
GA
Half a glass of wine for myself, three and a half bottles for Dennis (Booth).