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Sedgley boss to put faith in youth

19/ 6/2008

SEDGLEY Park Tigers’ director of football Tim Fourie is ready to give youth a chance in the forthcoming season.

The loss of several experienced players looks to have left Sedgley with an uphill battle to maintain their National League One status. But Fourie said: "A number of experienced guys have left to be replaced by mainly younger players – some of them untried at this level. But maybe it’s time to give youth a fling.

"I will miss not having Andy Northey around to coach the backs but Phil Jones and Andy Craig will be taking on extra responsibility there.

"Andy, in particular, has played on rugby’s biggest stage – the World Cup.

"We’ve also lost Jon Skurr and Jimmy Ponton from the back row and Ed Norris from the second row.

"Coming the other way are Ollie Cook from Doncaster and Andy Boyde on loan from Leeds to create competition for places along with Adam Newton and Juan Crous at six, seven and eight while Sam Woods comes in at lock.

"Ollie is big, athletic, strong and quick. He’ll be expected to lead the forwards and direct our overall play together with the half backs. We’ll be looking for Boyde to push him all the way.

"Sam, being a Kiwi, has rugby in his blood and he is certainly a big powerful unit who will be expected to contribute the hard edge every side needs.

"In the backs so far there’s Peter Swatkins, Peter Wackett and Danny White.

"Swatkins is an unknown quantity while the two Leeds boys come with glowing reports from Diccon Edwards.

"Swatkins and Wackett will be in the frame to replace Chris Briers and Chris Wilkinson for the number nine shirt.

"And there may yet be one or two more new faces between now and the start of pre-season training on the first week of July."

Sedgley have pencilled in a pre-season friendly at Wharfedale on Friday, August 15, and Fourie says that they have other warm up games in the pipeline.