Reds In Dire Straits AT The Back

Last updated : 13 January 2006 By Rob Miles (barnsley Boy)

Barnsley have a huge defensive headache going into tomorrows crucial match at Port Vale.

Matt Carbon, Bobby Hassell, Robbie Williams and Dale Tonge are all rated extremely doubtful whilst Paul Reid is suspended. With young Robert Atkinson out on loan this leaves just Neil Austin and Ryan Laight as the fit defenders at the club, Reds boss Andy Ritchie revealed his frustration to the Official Barnsley F.C website:

"We missed out on Graeme Lee yesterday but we still have one or two things to follow up on today.

"We have also missed out on a couple of others as well as being turned down by some clubs.

"The problem we have at the moment is that clubs really do not want to let players out on loan. Clubs only want to sell at present to get people off the wage bill because it is the last chance to move before the end of the season.

"You can never tell what will happen and we will have to wait and see what comes back today".

Meanwhile Ritchie has also moved swiftly to deny reports that Luton Town have made an official bid for Chris Shuker.

Ritchie told www.barnsleyfc.co.uk:

That is the first I have heard of anything like that. No one from Luton Town has spoken with me and I have not been told of any bid of any kind for any player