Author: Unknown - Fri 31 Mar 06Website roving reporter Lauren Hall caught up with the man himself this week, and her searching questions gave Reedy the chance to tell the speccies what the mood in the camp is as the Celts gear up for a stab at the play-offs.
Q: What are your thoughts for the rest of the season?A: "Well it's full steam ahead to try and gain the play offs. We have got 9 games left and 6 are at home so we are very very much in the play off hunt"
Q: What do you think about the team's performance so far this season?A: "I think it has been a tremendous effort with where we have come from. You know when I joined in January last year obviously everybody had accepted that the team was probably down but we kept them up. Then obviously we had to do a complete overhaul and you know considering there have been 16 brand new players come in this year I think with 9 games to go to be involved in the play offs is a great achievement"
Q: Which players have impressed you so far and why?A: "Paul Pettinger I think has been excellent to replace Doots who was obviously a massive favourite here Paul has been absolutely outstanding. Mark Haran is probably the best signing I have had since I came to Stalybridge. He is excellent. The recent signing of Scott Maxfield is colossal and we beat off a lot of stiff opposition to get him and his friendship with Mark probably proved decisive in him coming here. He's recently signed another contract until the end of next year and even though he has only played 19 games he has made a massive difference to us. Then obviously Lee Ellington, everybody in the league would want Lee but you know he has got 22 goals and you know he is going to be on target to get 25+. All round I don?t think I have done too bad. Every Manager makes some bad signings and obviously there are some that have not come up to scratch but on the whole I am very pleased with them all"
Q: Why have you let Jody go out on loan?A: "Jody because his record speaks for itself. He has played 23 games, scored 1 goal, it's not good enough and he has not been the success we all hoped he was going to be. I just felt that going out to Radcliffe where he scored 96 goals in 2 years he will get his skills back so he has gone there to try and get a bit of confidence and obviously we made a change and put Paul Sykes up there and on Saturday him and Lee Ellington were magnificent"
Q: Are there any areas in the team which you feel still need improving?A: "Yes for definite for next year we have identified we probably need to add 3 and 4 members to this squad. At this stage I will be diplomatic and not say which position they are but for us to make a real push whether it be in the Conference National or whether it be for another push to get up we've still identified there are four positions we need to strengthen"
Q: How has your relationship with Mark Atkins developed during your time at Celtic?A: "Yeah great I love every minute working with him he is a great coach, you know to be honest we work as a team and a lot of the times this season we have sat in that room and I have come with a team in my head and he has convinced me to do other things. I have got full confidence behind him so yeah great I think we complement each other very well"
Q: How important is your relationship with the fans at Celtic?A: I just love the fans. I mean the best fans I have ever had as a Manager before here were when I had 5 years at Bridlington Town. I thought they were lunatics but these Celtic fans are absolutely fantastic".
Q: If we don?t get promotion how will you plan for next season?A: "Just the same you know we will come in very early, we have arranged games for next year already, we will come in mid-June and work hard and have a game plan and try and get them as fit as they can be, well Mark will. Then again we will try and get them into a set pattern of play and hopefully we will have another charge, but you know I really do honestly say to you that I think we will be in the Conference premier next season"
Q: What do you think has been our best performance of the season so far?A "Kettering last Saturday"
Q: And the worst?A: "Kettering away"
Q: If you were England Manager which 5 players would be 1st onto your World Cup squad list?A: "Rooney, Beckham, Frank Lampard, Gary Neville and probably Paul Robinson they would be my five".
Q: What do you think of England's chance of winning in Germany?A: "I think they have got a wonderful chance, the best chance since '66"
Q: Which other team in the Conference North has impressed you and why?A: "Without a doubt Northwich. I think they are a good football team and yet we could have beat them both times you know but we got a 3-3 at home after being 3-1 up and away only a referee robbed us. After them I would probably have to say Stafford Rangers".
Q: How did you feel about going back to Harrogate?A: "Well my time at Harrogate has been and gone and you know all I can do now is put all my energy in to Celtic and really and truthfully I have left some old friends there, unfortunately I have inherited a lot of enemies now but you know I just look at Celtic first, second and third and I do not really give Harrogate or anybody else any thoughts whatsoever".
Q: If you could take one player from another Conference North Club who would it be?A: "Johnny Allen from Northwich".
