7:00am Monday 8th February 2010
By Steve Carley
WORCESTER City caretaker manager Carl Heeley’s bid to recruit players is being hindered by the contracts of the current crop.
Heeley is keen to make changes to the personnel at St George’s Lane in the club’s quest to avoid relegation from Blue Square South.
But several City players are under contract which reduces the amount of cash available to strengthen the squad.
Heeley has already admitted to needing to operate on a one in, one out basis.
However, the situation has taken on more urgency given the team are flirting perilously with the bottom three following Saturday’s 3-2 defeat at Havant and Waterlooville.
He said: “I wasn’t getting carried away with the fact we had won two games (since he took over) because now we are four games in and have lost two.
“I have formed a view on the players. Unfortunately, it’s not as easy just to swap people around because there are obligations, which I have inherited, that I can’t really do a lot about so I’ve got to try and work with the majority of the group.
“There’s only a small amount I can do unless players who are contracted to the club come to me and tell me they want to go. Probably 70 per cent have got contract obligations at the club but it’s not so much about the number of people on contract, it’s the amount of money you’ve got that’s not tied up on contract that’s the key thing.”
City will be boosted by the availablity of Matt Dinsmore for tonight’s rematch against Kidderminster Harriers in the Worcestershire FA Senior Cup semi-final at the Lane (7.45).
The forward was not involved in Hampshire at the weekend as he was working towards winning a soccer scholarship in the United States but he is ready to face the Aggborough side.
However, striker Marc McGregor (hamstring) and midfielder Matt Birley (knee) are both unlikely to feature.
Harriers won last Monday’s FA Trophy battle of Worcestershire 1-0 with Chris McPhee’s second-half strike securing a quarter-final date at Oxford United, where Steve Burr’s side also drew 0-0 in the Blue Square Premier on Saturday.
Heeley said: “It’s a semi-final and we are not going to throw the opportunity away of going to a final.
“It’s a balancing act with playing two games in three days so I need to use the squad as best I can.
“We will need to freshen it up. There’s one or two options.”
Harriers are likely to give some of their fringe players a run-out.
Admission for tonight’s match has been reduced to £6 for adults and £3 for concessions.
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