February
Newsfile

Newsfile Archive

City have been linked with a few youngsters in recent weeks. Jermaine Easter from Wolves has been released from his trial at Ninian Park while I have heard that other promising youngsters like Darryl Hathaway from Australia and Neil Lampton, a 19 year old winger from Fulham, have been under the spotlight.

Brighton play at home to Barnet tonight and victory for the Seagulls would see them leap frog City and move back into 2nd place. Barnet offer no threat to the promotion picture so an away win would be nice, Brighton I expect to get promoted with City and they will do both themselves and City a favour if they can win at Hartlepool on Saturday, but for tonight it would nice to see City stay 2nd.

Kevin Ratcliffe could be in trouble after his outbursts and sending off last night at Gay Meadow. Ratcliffe was not shy about airing his grievances about the referee. Alan Cork, who has only just returned from a tocuchline ban for far more laid back about the situation. Smug is probably a word that could be used.

Full report from the Shropshire Star.
Shrewsbury Town boss Kevin Ratcliffe could face a disrepute charge
after his side crashed 4-0 to promotion-chasing Cardiff on a night of
drama at the Gay Meadow.

Ratcliffe was banished from the touchline after skipper Nigel
Jemson's first half sending-off and must now wait to see if he faces
the full wrath of the FA.

But the Town boss hit out at referee David Pugh following a
controversy-packed night in which striker Steve Jagielka joined
Jemson for an early bath as Town finished with nine men and headed
back towards the relegation dogfight.

Last night Ratcliffe insisted the FA could "whistle" for any fine if
a punishment was imposed.

Officials at FA headquarters in London, meanwhile, expect to receive
referee Pugh's report by tomorrow morning at the latest.

"We will wait for the report and the disciplinary department will
then make a decision on whether to ban the players as well as ban
and/or charge the manager," said a spokesman.

All three would then have 14 days to request a personal hearing after
which fines could be imposed.

The club, however, will not be fined but both the FA and Shrewsbury
Town spokesman Malcolm Starkey said they would not speculate on the
eventual outcomes ahead of the referee's report.

But Ratcliffe was far from happy and said after the end of last
night's clash: "I'd only got one problem at half time and it was a
problem right the way through the game.

"It was very competitive, nothing more than you want to see from your
players. The players couldn't have given me any more.

"I thought the match was spoiled by one person.

"I think the lads can hold their heads up high that they played well
and didn't let themselves down.

"I'm not taking anything from the scoreline it was just a bad day at
the office."

Ratcliffe responded with a "no comment" to Jemson's dismissal and its
implications, but when asked whether the skipper had acted rashly,
added: "no more than the referee did tonight."

Ratcliffe warned against people "putting words into his mouth" about
Jemson's red card but added of his own touchline altercation: "I
won't be paying any fine - they can go and whistle for it.

"The most probable reason for my sending off was foul and abusive
language.

"I'm very disappointed at the moment and trying to restrain myself
from saying things before I get into more trouble, because I will not
be paying any fine whatsoever and I'll explain my reasons why to the
FA or the Football League, if he does report me.

"It's not the first time I've been sent off as a manager and I don't
suppose it'll be my last either.

"I missed Steve Jagielka's sending-off actually but it was only a
matter of time wasn't it? Refs are not born with common sense."

Cardiff boss Alan Cork refused to be drawn into the row but was less
than happy with challenges from Town's Sam Aiston and Leon Drysdale.

"It was a tough game and I think they were lucky not to have four
sent off," was Cork's only comment.