Afternoon Bulls fans,
As promised from the day I took over as manager of the club, I have ensured communication would improve between the pitch and the stands and I am adamant it will continue that way and I think it’s been a reasonable amount of time since my last update to you all.
First of all, we’ve had a tough few weeks in terms of number of available bodies at training. I have always been the type of character that looks to take accountability when things aren’t quite right but on this occasion it’s proving frustrating as the injuries that have occurred haven’t been muscle injuries. If muscle injuries were the issue, then I’d be able to look at the intensity of training – whether it needs to be increased or decreased – or whether the type of training we are putting on has to be altered. However, all our injuries have related to other issues rather muscles pulls or strains.
To be honest and open with you, we have a list of different types of injuries which require different types of treatment and management ranging from potential fractures to poisoned toes and impingement issues. Let me make this clear, this is not an explanation of excuses by any stretch of imagination, I just want it to be seen as an insight into your football club and a show of open and honest communication.
Updates on individual players are as follows:
Aaron Skinner – Skins has been for an X-ray and results show a ‘possible’ fracture in the ankle. Further tests are needed to find out if it’s a clean fracture or if it’s a fracture of the ankle which has also taken a part of the tendon away from the bone, in which case he will require surgery. We cannot put an accurate timescale on the injury until we have fully investigated with the specialist to see where we are at with it. What I can say is Skins is looking at a minimum of 4 weeks out, depending if surgery is required or not.
Alex Babos – For those that attended the away FA Cup replay against Ilkeston, you would have seen Alex’s awkward impact fall very, very late in the game. We are currently monitoring that situation and will look at further scanning Alex when the swelling has reduced. We are happy with the progress in his range of movement and mobility of his elbow, but the area is still considerably swollen. Again, I apologise for no real time specific info for you.
Preston Bitemo – We fear Preston has the same stress fracture issue as Mark Derricott suffered last season and he will be scanned this week. If the results are what we expect, we would be looking at a timescale of 11 weeks. Preston is a young lad and it’s important we look after his long-term health and wellbeing as a matter of priority which we absolutely will.
Jason Cowley – Cowls suffered a somewhat horrific and needless challenge in pre-season and came back onto the pitch last Tuesday to only be set back with a constant dull ache at the end of range in his ankle. Again, like Preston, he will be scanned this week and see a specialist to get to the bottom of the diagnosis.
Other players have also had issues that will see them manage themselves accordingly in the hope that through time the issues will ease off. We have no real worries about the rest of the squad at the moment. but of course the timing of so many carrying such different types of issues isn’t ideal.
We are now at 16 players available and rest assured we do have room to bring some bodies in, but again, like I reiterated in my post match interview on Saturday, we are a club still in recovery mode and I will continue to spend wisely. It is not an arrogance on my part, but more a pride and duty of care to our club, that I don’t rush and waste money nor will we bend over backwards to promise clubs that players are guaranteed starts.
We have built a hard-working group and continue to try to build on that regularly to drive standards and work ethics from within and that’s non-negotiable for us. This coming week is a difficult week to negotiate any signings with loan players normally unlikely to be allowed to play in FA Cup games, but we will as always continue to scour the market for the right person, the right player and the right value to us as a football club.
Thank you for your support throughout the season so far. It’s been a really positive start which we are really proud of. We have played 11 games and been unbeaten in 10 of those. We are in the next round of the FA Cup as well. We are on more points, more goals and less conceded goals than we were last year so the signs of progress are evident.
Finally, as the manager of your club who shares your frustrations from Saturday, I can confirm I will be speaking to the FA refereeing group for an explanation of the decision to rule out our goal on Saturday. I want to make it clear this will be a very respectful conversation and not a direct complaint. We all make mistakes in life and the official made a call he saw as correct at the time and on reflection he may have chosen another option.
Thank you for your continued support and we will see you soon.
Take care!
Paul Caddis
