ALTRINCHAM fans calling for their club to headhunt Leigh RMI manager Steve Waywell are going to be disappointed.

Speaking to SAM sport earlier this week, Waywell said, "I've not been approached

about the position and I have not even applied."

And acting chairman Mark Harris ruled out the club 'headhunting' anyone outside the shortlist of four, who are being interviewed this week.

Waywell, whose Leigh side look set for a top eight finish in the Nationwide Conference, also said, "Altrincham are a big club and well supported. At the end of the day, they are probably one of the biggest and best teams in non-league.

"The fact remains, however, that I am happy where I am and until such things change, I am going nowhere."

Also tipped for the job is Paul Futcher, who confirmed to SAM sport that "my hat is in the ring you could say, but I have had no contact since I sent them a letter."

Other names that have been connected with the Moss Lane hot seat, vacated acrimoniously by Mark Ward in mid March, are Hyde United's Mike McKenzie and Stalybridge Celtic's Phil Wilson.

However, both denied there had been any contact between themselves and Altrincham, with Wilson adding that his ambitions lay in taking Celtic to the Conference.

Former Macclesfield manager Peter Davenport echoed their words, confirming that he had had no contact with the Moss Lane Board.

One surprise name on the shortlist is believed to be Bishop Auckland gaffer Tony Lee, and it is thought that he had an interview at Moss Lane earlier this week.

Acting chairman Harris said, "We have reviewed 16 high quality applicants for the post of manager and have whittled it down to a short-list of less than six.

"I have been involved in this process twice before and I can honestly say this is the strongest field I have ever had to pick from.

" We will not be headhunting anyone, because it is important that the man who manages Altrincham actually wants to and applied for the post."

ALTRINCHAM'S supporters' association, SAFE, are having one of their busiest days of the season at Moss Lane this Saturday.

Several events designed to raise both the profile and money for the association are happening in and around Moss Lane on the afternoon of the Robins's last home game of the season against Hyde United.

SAFE committee member Alan Brotherton takes up the story

You could say that Saturday should be called Safe day, with our sponsored walk taking place in the morning, the Junior Robins player award being presented just before kick off, our branch of the Supporters Association, Safe In Exile will be sponsoring the match ball and the `SAFE Player of the Year' presentation taking place in the Noel White Suite at 5.30pm following the match.

"This may be our end to the 'season but the Supporters Association continued 'throughout the year in their efforts to raise additional funds in support of Altrincham Football Club," Alan added.

"Our expanding band of exiled supporters, co-ordinated by Jacqui Forster who is based in Oxfordshire, will!, have the chance to get together on Saturday when they sponsor the Matchball.

"However, one of the members who will be unable to attend is based in Pakistan and has kindly donated his place in our sponsors lounge to young handicapped supporter Andrew Guilfoyle, who along with his dad is a regular at Moss Lane and both of them will be guests of the sponsors on Saturday."

ALTRINCHAM will have a new manage installed before the season ends.

Robins' directors were due to meet yesterday to draw up a shortlist of candidates having advertised the post last weekend.

Interviews will commence within the next few days and, says Alty's acting chairman Mark Harris, an appointment can be expected before the Moss Lane outfit winds up their UniBond League programme with a trip to Hucknall a week on Saturday.

Among those known to be keen to replace the axed Mark Ward are ex-Macclesfield manager Peter Davenport who is currently starring alongside former Northern Ireland international Jimmy Quinn for relegation-bound Congleton, together with Paul Futcher and Mark Carter.

If Alty directors were tempted to try to 'head hunt', Leigh's Steve Waywell, Stalybridge boss Phil Wilson and Hyde's Mike McKenzie would almost certainly be among those whose merits they would be considering.

The Robins are presently under the temporary charge of former chiefs Bernard Taylor and Graham Heathcote.

Meanwhile, Altrincham's rapidly expanding band of exiled supporters will be sponsoring the match ball for next Saturday': home clash with neighbours Hyde.

Exiles' co-ordinator is Oxfordshire-based Jacqui Forster, who will be one of several long-distance fans at the game.

One who can't make the trip lives In Pakistan and has donated his place In Alty': sponsors' lounge to young handicapped supporter Andrew GuiIfoyle. Andrew, of Wilmslow, is a Moss Lane regular along with his dad and both will be guests of the sponsors.

• ALTRINCHAM have been named monthly winners of the UniBond premier division'! fair play award after having just two players booked in five games In March.

ALTRINCHAM's acting chairman Mark Harris has guaranteed that the club will not be managerless for much longer.

Robins have been without a permanent boss since Mark Ward was sacked in midMarch, with many fans feeling the club is stuck in limbo until a permanent appointment is made.

Harris, who presided over a board meeting which ran late into the night on Tuesday, revealed to SAM sport that interviews will take place next week.

Speaking to SAM sport on Wednesday, Harris said, "As everyone knows, we have advertised the position in the Non-League paper and we have received a number of applicants of a very impressive calibre.

"I can confirm that the board will be meeting on Saturday to draw up a short list, and we

will make an appointment before the end of the season.

"It is important that we do this because we want the successful applicant to be able start formulating his plan for next season as soon as the final whistle goes at Hucknall Town."

Harris also revealed that the first major step in the Robins rescue plan was nearing completion, with the conclusion of the budgeting process.

He said, "We have finished the budget for next season, and while we have reduced expenditure significantly, we will still have the highest wage bill in the UniBond,

"And reduced expenditure in no way means reduced ambition. We will he making it

absolutely clear to the new manager that it is the club's aim to get out of the UniBond as quickly as possible.

"Also, the budget will form a major part of the interviews we will be conducting next week, so we don't end up back in the position where the money available for players comes as a surprise to the manager."

Looking at the bigger picture, Harris added, "We are still not out of the woods yet. The budget is far from balanced and although the losses have been reduced significantly, it is a long road back, and it may be as long as eighteen months before we break even."

Choice of new away strip

• Altrincham fans again have the opportunity to vote for their choice of away strip for next season.

The choices will be paraded before the match against Hyde United, and fans will be able to vote at the club shop and on the Robins Round-up phone line.

Candidates with suitable credentials should send CVs, marked 'Strictly Private & Confidential' for the attention of:

The Chairman, Altrincham Football Club, Moss Lane, Altrincham WA15 BAR

To arrive no later than Friday 20th April 2001

The centre pages is up to date and easy to read, giving all the scores, fixtures, attendances and scorers from this season. Match reports, UniBond League news and a look at former players completes the offering. And really there is no criticism that I can make of the programme, except that it is too good!!

Interestingly, the programme is sponsored by a . Bob Green which may explain how Alty can afford such an offering, but nevertheless they should be proud of the publication which will take some beating in the Wirral Awards at the end of this term.

2000-2001 Details Price: £1.50

Pages:40 Value For Money: 10/ 10

THE OUTCRY over serving prisoner Paul Edwards playing for Altrincham has left acting chairman Mark Harris more than a little bemused.

"It's something of nothing really," he told SAM sport earlier this week, adding "It's not the first time it has happened at Altrincham"

Edwards, 20, is serving a one year sentence for burglary at Thorn Cross custody centre near Warrington, and is released on licence to play for Altrincham on match days as part of a forward-looking rehabilitation programme.

Harris said, "Neither the club nor the player wanted to make this public and the publicity it has attracted, most notably in Sunday's press, is unfortunate.

"Everyone here at Moss Lane thinks he is a lovely lad, who is paying his debt to society, and we are prepared - as he is - to let his football do the talking for him."

Edwards, who played for Knutsford in the mid Cheshire league under the same arrangement, plays on a non-contract basis and as a result, receives no wages from Altrincham.

* Meanwhile, Harris has revealed that the club plan to advertise the vacant managerial position in The Non league Paper.

"We want to spread our net as far and as wide as possible, and we will then gauge the Interest, which is already impressive, and make an appointment before the end of the season.

"It is important that we do appoint as soon as that, because it is important that the new manager has the opportunity to recruit players as soon as possible.

"We have finished the first cut of the budget and not one person has said we will not be able to mount a very serious promotion challenge next season, on the strength of what we have to work with."