Hodges: "Three players I have spoken to have recently played in the Premier League"

Last updated : 24 January 2003 By West Stander
In an interview with BBC Radio Sheffield, Barnsley manager Glyn Hodges has revealed that he has been in talks with three ex-Premier League players.

In last night's Football Heaven programme, he told listeners "We are looking and we have some people in mind. We can't really say who because that would not be right. Three players...have top flight experience".

One of them is almost certain to be Bradford City's Andy Tod. Hodges recently described Tod as a "wholehearted player who can play centre-forward or centre-back, he gets a foot in and puts himself about". The proposed loan deal with the Bantams - with Mike Sheron rumoured to be heading in the opposite direction - has been scuppered by the continued embargo on any transfer dealings at the club.

Hodges also indicated that, should he be given the manager's job on a permanent basis, he has an assistant manager lined up: "He was working with the FA and and has been involved with England right through the youth set up. He went to the World Cup and is a football man".

In an attempt to end the Tykes' desperate run of form - seven defeats in the last eight league games - Hodges revealed that he will be inviting a psychologist down to Oakwell: "People may laugh at that but we are trying everything. I think it may be a subconscious thing with the players...a state of mind".