Wealdstone boss won't panic buy despite injury crisis

Jan 7 2011 By Jon Batham

THERE will be no panic buying at Wealdstone despite a sudden shortage of numbers at Grosvenor Vale.

So said boss Gordon Bartlett this week after he was left counting the cost of the New Year’s Day defeat to AFC Hornchurch.

Already looking for a replacement for the departed Kieron Forbes, Stones suffered the loss of experienced players Scott Fitzgerald (knee) and Chris O’Leary (groin) - both look set for lengthy periods on the sidelines.

It meant Bartlett and his staff were out watching games on Monday as well as making dozens of phone calls to other managers in an attempt to beef up the squad.

However, he insisted any signings would have to be right for the club.

"Numbers are a bit low," he said. "Fitzy [Fitzgerald] is on crutches at the moment and we’re waiting for Chris [O’Leary] to be assessed but it doesn’t look good.

"A loan deal with a player from a Conference or Conference South club is a possibility and I’ve already spoken to one or two managers about the possibility, but all will be explained over the next week or so."

Bartlett was shorter on bodies than he expected even before a ball was kicked against the Urchins, only finding out the day before that Danny Spendlove had booked a winter skiing trip.

"I was a bit disappointed with that, because we’d made a plan for dealing with the loss of Kieran and then had to change it," he added.

"But I’ve been pleased with the way we’ve played the last two months and I don’t think one defeat on New Year’s Day has affected the confidence."