ALTRINCHAM boss Bernard Taylor has signed a three-year extension to his contract as manager at Moss Lane, and in his usual style, insists he still has a job to do.

Defeat in the FA Cup may have dampened his spirits for a while, but he is more than fired up for the league battle which will determine the future of the club.

They are, this week, three points better off thanks to an inspired fight back against Hereford United.

Speaking to SAM sport earlier this week, Taylor said, "I was very pleased to get the three points on Saturday, and I was also pleased at the manner in which we got them."

He went on to say, "I expected united to come out, with all guns blazing in the second half, especially with the wind at their backs and after the first half they put in.

"Our lads felt really up for it in the second half and I am delighted at the way they reacted. They really raised their game.

"I also thought the back four did really well," he added.

Because of other results, the win kept Alty in sixteenth place in the table, but things could be looking up as Robins have three games in hand over seven teams in higher positions.

"Sunday's is a big game now. It will be a change to travel for a match on a Sunday. Hopefully we can come back with three more points."

Taylor handed a debut to ex-Southport youngster Stuart Quinn from the start, and he also tried out ex-Sheffield United midfielder Steven Hawes, an 80th minute substitution.

"Quinn has had a few games in the reserves, and we tried him out on Saturday. We're just having a look at him right now. I know what we are missing."

In the Moss Lane treatment room at the moment are Simeon Hodson, Stuart Coburn and Gary Talbot.

Talbot picked up a knock against Hereford and Coburn's knee problem is not as bad as was first thought.

Cover in the goal-keeping department is vital, and the club are doing everything they can to ensure that last season's clean sheet specialist is back in the frame as soon as possible.

Bernard Taylor, manager of Nationwide Conference side Altrincham, has signed an extension to his contract which will keep him at the Moss Lane helm for a further three years.

Mr Taylor joined Altrincham in March 1998 and guided the Robins' promotion to the Nationwide Conference and five trophy successes, reaping the Cheshire Senior Cup, Northern Premier Challenge Shield (twice), UniBond League Cup and UniBond League title in his twenty-month tenure.

Speaking after Saturday's 2-1 home win against Hereford United, Mr Taylor commented: "My short-term aim is to ensure Altrincham are playing Nationwide Conference football next season. This is an excellent league to be involved in and while the step up in class from regional football was considerable I'd like to think we have every chance of competing successfully at this level."

Droylsden, without a league win since August, will be looking for a debut goal from ex-Radcliffe hotshot Tony Carroll in their home duel with Blyth.

Well here we are again, playing Altrincham in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round. Doubtless you will be aware by now that the Football Association has ruled that this game takes place today following a complaint by a third party that Andy Mason was not qualified to play in the previous game.

The chairman, Peter Barnes, goes into the events in more detail in his column, so I do not intend to pre-empt his words.

Suffice it so say that the Football Association tribunal, which I attended with Peter on Tuesday in London, ruled that Mason was not qualified, due to his international clearance from Finland not arriving in time for the first game at Moss Lane.

This left us in breach of rule 18 (h) on the merest of technicalities.

The FA had a number of options but chose to order the game to be replayed so I am delighted - given what the FA could have done - to welcome once again the directors, officials, players and supporters of Altrincham for this match. The game is officially classed as a replay and the first match stands for the purposes of FA records and such That means the fixture stays in our official records and all cautions from the game count.

We must put behind us last week's events behind us and earn a trip to Merthyr Tydfil on Tuesday. The FA tribunal; decided, in their written judgement, that the winners go to South Wales on November 2. Just like the last game here, today's match will be played to a finale with extra time and kicks from the penalty spot if necessary.

I must say that I have a great deal of sympathy for Merthyr Tydfil in all of this.

They are innocent victims and have lost a big game today, though they have been wonderfully understanding when I have spoken to their officials.

I presume it also gives them a chance to come and look at today's game and see for themselves Tuesday's opposition - for either ourselves or Altrincham will be there.

That's about it on this issue. I have to say that Altrincham have behaved extremely well in all of this. The FA confirmed that Altrincham had not made a complaint and I read a comment to that effect from their manager Bernard Taylor in Monday's MEN.

So ' to business ... may the best team win and let's hope that, once again, it is Celtic.

GOOD afternoon everyone and welcome to Bower Fold, whether you are from Stalybridge or

Altrincham or if you are a neutral.

Many thanks for your support for what is going to be a difficult afternoon for all parties.

From the outset, I wish to make it known to everyone that Altrincham have behaved impeccably in all of this. They informed me speedily on Friday am when they heard from the FA about the alleged problem with Andy Mason. The FA Challenge Cup Committee chairman, Mr Terry Annable, confirmed to me personally, that Altrincham had not made a protest and that confirmed Mr Bernard Taylor's comments in Monday's Manchester Evening News.

I sincerely hope, and expect, that the game will be played in the right spirit, and enjoyed by the fans in the right way and that the best team wins. Obviously I hope the winners are Celtic. From the outset, when the problems with Andy Mason and his international clearance first came to light, I believed that we had done nothing wrong.

I spent many hours over last weekend poring over the rules and regulations and went to London, with our secretary Martyn Torr, in the firm belief that we were in the right.

Subsequently, of course, the FA tribunal proved conclusively that Andy's international clearance was an issue and that, despite what I can best describe as ambiguity in the rules, our interpretation was wrong.

Martyn made a spirited and articulate defence of the club's position and I made a closing statement, supporting the club's stance end pointing out that the FA had the power to look at international clearance issues in a certain way, given the grey area covering these FIFA laws.

There is no doubt we were given a fair hearing. I am full of admiration for the way the matter was dealt with, professionally and with a great deal of understanding.

Clearly, although we were technically in breach of the regulations - which had to be cross-referenced across several FA rule books - the FA had an empathy with out arguments.

They could have thrown us out of the competition and were within their rights to do so, despite this being the most minor of transgressions.

That they did not, I believe, underpins the fact that we did nothing underhand, or devious, and our interpretation of the relevant rules was erroneous and not deliberately deceitful.

I was disappointed, obviously, that we were ordered to replay the game, as we won fair and square first time round, but I can see the FA's dilemma, and I believe they have made a fair decision.