ALTRINCHAM manager Mark Ward knows exactly what his team is missing, and it's not just a more potent attack force.

Saturday's 3-1 win over Blyth Spartans gave him a very welcome three championship points, but he still has concerns over the team's consistency.

"At the moment, we are putting in one good performance and following that with two below par ones."

He went on to say, "Don't get me wrong. Three points are three points but I thought we played very badly. We need to get some consistency in our game, both individually and collectively as a team. That needs to be spelled out to the players."

Ward was reluctant to single out any players for criticism, adding that it is his ultimate responsibility for picking the team.

"We seemed to give them a bit of hope after we let them equalise and I told the lads not to do that.

"We had to work hard to get it back, and I have to admit I did not think we were going to do it."

Looking at the long term, Ward added, "At the end of the day, I cannot argue with third in the league, especially when we are not playing at our full potential.

"However, we won't stay there long if we don't find some consistency soon and get some momentum going.

"To be honest, I'll be happy if were are still third in the league after Christmas."

One player Ward was happy to single out for praise was Jason Gallagher, who capped a dream return to the first team with a 90th minute strike against Spartans.

Jason has done very well to come back from that kind of injury. He has done a lot of work with the physios and he deserved that kind of return.

"In my book, every player has to earn his chance in the first team and Jason definitely earned his place against Barrow tonight (Tuesday) with his performance on Saturday.

• Barring good fortune, Kevin Ellison will be out until Christmas at .least, while Mark Maddox, Eddie Turkington and Ward himself had runouts with the reserves on Wednesday.

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THE DRILL FIELD, Northwich Victoria's home since 1875 once accepted by the Football Association as the world's oldest football ground - has called an end to its lifelong fight for survival. Only seven years after a frantic supporters' appeal saved the ground from developers, the club are in financial trouble again. In June, John Stitch, Vics' major benefactor, died. At the end of this season the Drill Field, which he helped to save and rebuild, will become a Wain Homes housing estate.

This is a sorry moment for Northwich who, after finding in 1894 they could not sustain full-time professional football after two years in the Football League Second Division, have since been one of English football's great non-league clubs. Conference founder members in 1979 and ever present since, they are currently bottom with nine points and recently sacked their manager Mark Gardiner They are now seeking a replacement capable of saving them from the drop to the UniBond League.

"It is a catastrophic situation," says the general manager, Dave Thomas. He puts Northwich's debts at around £400,000, run up on developing the impressive Dane Bank Stand, general administration costs and - that intractable challenge for the game - players' wages.

Northwich's plight highlights the huge financial gap between the Conference and the Football League. The Conference has no television deal; Nationwide's £300,000 sponsorship produces only £10,000 to each of the 22 clubs. By contrast, Third Division clubs in the Football League receive £120,000 from TV and sponsorship, and have this season secured a further £100,000 each from an internet deal with ntl. In September, every club received a E307,000 advance on the forthcoming E315m TV deal announced last summer. The Conference champions do get promoted to the Third Division, of course. Kidderminster, who stepped up last season, are said by one Football League insider to have been "pinching themselves" at the League meeting which rolled out the figures.

Ambition for such prizes has produced businessmen willing to bankroll clubs; Rushden & Diamonds' Dr Martens magnate, Max Griggs, being the most wealthy and prominent. Six more Conference clubs are now fulltime professional outfits: Yeovil, Telford and the former League clubs Doncaster, Chester, Hereford and Scarborough. Reports are rife of clubs paying wages of up to £1,000 per week, which traditional semi-pro stalwarts like Northwich cannot match. Thomas says Northwich's top players are on a maximum £350 per week, itself double that of only five years ago.

The Bosnian ruling has had an impact, too. Several of Northwich's best players have left - Paul Tait to Crewe, Val Owen to Hednesford - on out of-contract free transfers. A sell-on clause for Lee Steele produced nothing, because he went to Brighton from Shrewsbury on a free transfer.

The club's negotiating abilities have weakened; they allowed Mark Birch to go to Carlisle for only £10,000 and, worst of all, long-serving captain Steve Walters, a former England youth international colleague of Andy Cole's, was sold to Morecambe in the close season for a mere £25,000.

"The game's financial structure is not sustainable," says Thomas. "The gap between the leagues is too great-never mind the silly money in the Premier League - and the distribution is far too unequal. Most clubs are relying on benefactors. When our benefactor sadly died in the summer we were left with no option but to sell the ground." In 1993, supporters raised £167,000 to pay off developers Morbaine, who were planning a supermarket on the Drill Field. Stitch, a Northwich-based insurance loss adjuster, then stepped in, part-funding the Dane Bank Stand and helping the club financially. It is now chaired by his son, Rod. A small army of committed helpers has always worked unpaid, keeping the club, ground and its alluring snack bars warm and well stocked.

The club's plight in the nouveau riche Conference echoes their drop from the Football League over a century ago. Back then, the move to professionalism had so outraged some of Northwich's early gentlemen amateur players that they left to form another club, Witton Albion. The intense rivalry between these clubs is one of football's curiosities, a small town conflict of Lilliputian proportions. In the mid-90s Witton sold their own ground for £1m to Sainsbury's, who built a new stadium for them at Wincham Park. Local lore has it that some Northwich fans refuse, even now, to shop at Sainsbury's.

Northwich themselves have reluctantly accepted a £2.4m offer from Wain for the Drill Field and now the obvious solution is for the two clubs to share Witton's ground. At last summer's AGM, the directors proposed this, without optimism, as one of three options. Only one person voted for it. The majority opted to share Wincham Park for a single season, and for Vics to build their own ground. They are currently looking for a site.

John Moules, the Conference chief executive, describes the end of the Drill Field as a tragedy, and says he is working "hand in glove" with the FA to solve the wage inflation and inequality which amounts to economic self-destruction. An FA spokesman said that a newly-formed Financial Advisory Unit is surveying all Conference clubs' finances, and looking to encourage stability and wage restraint. With some guidelines in place as to how clubs will manage their money, the FA will look to distribute "a substantial share" of the FA's own forthcoming £400m TV deal more equally throughout the game, via its recently-constituted National Game Board.

There is no hint of a contribution from either Premier or Football Leagues, despite the wealth generated by combined TV deals of £2bn (assuming the Premier League patches up its own deal following yesterday's withdrawal by ntl from the pay-per-view element). It disfigures the game that one of its great, historic homes should be lost in these golden times, for the sake of £400,000. Football lovers, not only Northwich fans, have to hope the Drill Field's demolition will sound a wake-up call for more equality to the game's money men.

davidconn@freeuk.com

Note from Alan J. This article was reproduced not only because of sadness at the demise of the Drill Field but also their financial problems highlighted by David Conn are very similar to those facing Altrincham. In order to ensure Alty does not suffer a similar fate we must ensure the support from the surrounding district must improve both in crowds and financial backing

There were two accompanying photographs to the article one of which showed the Northwich Victoria "Next Home Match" board with Altrincham as the next visitors on Monday at 3.00pm but no date was given.

On Checking with David Conn I learnt the day was the "Boxing day" fixture on December 27 1999. It is probable that the photograph was taken at Northwich Victoria's game with Nuneaton Borough on 11th December 1999 which Northwich won 3-1

My match report  on the game said that it was played  before a crowd of 1814,  ended up as a 1-1 draw after Northwich scored in the 89^th minute and Alty equalized in injury time. This exciting derby game, a perfect ending for a century of football, had everything, including a sending off for Jason Gallagher and a streaker!

My thanks to the photographer Barry Greenwood for not only giving permission to use the photograph but also sending me a copy by e-mail 

ALTRINCHAM manager Mark Ward has set his troops a target of an average of two points per game, and he feels it is within their grasp.

Speaking to SAM Sport earlier this week he said, "If you look at past tables, eighty points should be enough to win this league and on average, we are only a couple of points behind that.

"Hopefully we can get a run going again, starting with Blyth Spartans on Saturday and keep pace with those around us."

Ward has Jason Gallagher and Eddie Turkington returning to full fitness for the weekend fixture, while Kevin Ellison, Leroy Chambers and Mark Maddox will not reach fitness for at least another week. Richard Landon has joined Leroy Chambers on the transfer list as Ward's threatened clear-out of strikers gathers pace.

ALTRINCHAM boss Mark Ward has signaled his intent to strengthen his strike force, but has warned that the axe will have to fall first.

Ward, disappointed to see his side go down 2-1 to Droylsden on Sunday hinted that there may be a clear-out in response to embarrassing defeats and the FA cup exit.

Speaking to SAM sport earlier this week, he said, "The truth of the matter is, I have not had a strike partnership since the start of the season.

"I'm happy with the defence and the midfield, but as far as the strike force goes, we're just not good enough."

He went on to say, "Obviously I have inherited players from the previous regime and it's quite difficult to shift them when they are on such good wages.

Ill have to bring some quality to the strike force and to do that, we'll have to unload some players."

Ward was speaking after seeing hotshot Mark Quayle slip from his grasp and sign for Morecambe on a two year contract.

Ward wanted Quayle to head up his UniBond promotion push but, as Ward puts it, "We could not compete with Conference wages and, more importantly to the player, Conference football."

For just now, Ward has Mossley winger Danny Murphy in his transfer sights, and has had to serve seven days notice of an official approach to the player with his club after Mossley boss Benny Phillips signified his intention to keep him.

Phillips said, "We've made Danny a very good offer to stay, and hopefully he will. I think if it were left to him he would, but there are people round him who think he should be playing for Altrincham.

Meanwhile, Ward was determined to get his side's league campaign back on track against Leek Town on Tuesday.

"Before the Droylsden match, I told the lads that there was nine championship points to be picked up over the course of the next three games, and we dropped the first three.

"As a result, I am hoping for us to get all six from the visits of Leek Town and Spennymoor this week."

Danny Murphy has been signed from Mossley. He impressed Mark Ward when playing for Mossley on the right wing in their FA Cup defeat of Altrincham who placed a seven day order on him. Despite a fight to retain him he was signed by Altrincham in time to play for them against Leek Town on October 10th and scored Alt's equalizing goal on his debut

Michael Garrity has been released  

MOSSLEY are fighting to hang on to 23-year-old winger Danny Murphy, one of the stars of their amazing 3-0 FA Cup victory at Altrincham.

And the rival boss who wants him is none other than Robins chief Mark Ward, who was so impressed by Murphy in last weekend's Moss Lane shocker that he immediately began moves to take him to Alty.

According to Mossley boss Benny Phillips, Ward wanted Murphy to make his Robins bow alongside two other newcomers, Alex Hay and Gary Scott, in their big midweek UniBond premier division showdown with Stalybridge, which ended goalless.

But, when the Lilywhites' manager dug his heels in and declared his intention to keep Murphy, who joined Mossley in the summer on non-contract forms, Ward followed up by serving the Seel Park club with seven days' notice of approach on the former Cheadle star.

Said Phillips: "We've made Danny a very good offer to stay and, hopefully, he will. I think if it were left to him he would but there are people round him who think he should be playing for Altrincham".

Phillips has already taken steps to replace Murphy should he leave by serving Nantwich with a week's notice of approach on their young wide man, Danny Griggs.

I'VE been a Manchester United fan for more than 30 years and have therefore been delighted at their recent successes.

However, the increasing wealth and commercialization evident in the Premier League had begun to dim my enthusiasm for the game.

Fortunately, my love of soccer has been restored this season by regular visits to Altrincham FC.

I've been impressed by the friendly, welcoming atmosphere and by the standard of football.

I would thoroughly recommend non-league football as an antidote for anyone who is feeling disenchanted with certain aspects of top flight soccer.

Pink Post bags comment Altrincham are good to watch disenchanted or not.

RED-FACED Altrincham boss Mark Ward will ring the changes in response to the Robins' humiliating and financially disastrous FA Cup exit at the hands of brave Mossley.

While the Lilywhites are still basking in the glory of their amazing 3-0 giant-killing victory at Moss Lane, Ward is left with the job of lifting his shell-shocked players for tomorrow's crunch home clash with fellow UniBond high-fliers Stalybridge, who are now unbeaten in 12 league and Cup games after easing into the third-qualifying round with a 2-0 win over Blyth.

But the Alty chief will also wield the axe.

Centre forward Alex Hay, signed on a month's loan from Tranmere, is a certain starter, and Ward also hopes to land ex-Leigh right back Gary Scott and Colwyn Bay's former Wrexham midfielder Jon Cross in time to give them their debuts.

A stunned Ward, who admitted he'd underestimated Alty's triumphant NWCL opponents, said: "All credit to Mossley, they were better than us, but it's upsetting for me because I didn't believe we were capable of playing so badly.

"I'm going to have to make changes because tomorrow's game is a massive one for us."

Mossley chief Benny Phillips, jubilant after seeing his Seel Park minnows humble Alty with goals by Darrell Dicken, Steve Burns and substitute Mike Garside, beamed: "Any neutral would not have believed we're two divisions below Altrincham."

Salford City were left fuming after falling to a hotly-disputed injury-time winner at Emley. They are set to submit a written protest to the FA, claiming 'keeper Phil Melville was impeded by an injured home player lying in an offside position when he was beaten.

Hyde hotshot Simon Yeo bagged his 13th goal of the season as the Tigers tamed NWCL leaders Clitheroe 2-1, while Matthew McNeil and sub Nigel Evans were on target in Stalybridge's victory.

Radcliffe cruised through to the next stage with a 4-1 home romp over West Auckland, but Droylsden crashed 3-0 at Barrow and Ashton United face a tricky replay at Goole after Joe Royle's son, Darren, saved the Hurst Cross Robins with an equaliser.

Leigh ended their seven-match wait for a Nationwide Conference victory as Tony Black's penalty and a Steve Jones strike gave them the points against visiting Dover.

Southport climbed to fifth place with a 2-1 win at Nuneaton, but Chester could only manage a goalless draw at Hednesford.

Rock-bottom Northwich Vics tumbled 4-3 at home to Hayes.

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ALTRINCHAM boss Mark Ward has accused `greedy' Colwyn Bay of trying to cash in on their big money reputation.

Ward is keen to sign Bay's former Wrexham midfielder Jonathan Cross, but has no intention of paying a four-figure asking-price - believed to be around £8,000 - for a player who is only on non-con tract forms.

The Alty boss stormed: "The amount Colwyn Bay are looking for is scandalous. We've offered to compensate them for releasing Cross, but no way am I going to pay the figure I've been quoted.

"Every time I inquire about a player, I get asked for stupid money because I'm the manager of Altrincham

"What doesn't help, either, is that, in the UniBond League, non-contract registrations last for two year; and therefore run for longer than most contracts.

"In my eyes, that's ridiculous, but if greedy clubs like Colwyn Bay think they can cash in by forcing me to pay thousands for lads in a similar situation to Cross they've got another think coming because I won't."

Ward was this week still waiting to hear if striker Mark Quayle, now a free agent, will accept his offer to stay at Moss Lane until the end of the season.

Quayle has also been considering an offer from Morecambe, who have just signed ex-Hyde and Rochdale front man Julian Dowe.

Meanwhile, Ward, who faces around a month on the sidelines after undergoing a cartilage operation on Friday, is giving trials to former Glasgow Celtic midfielder Craig Culkin, 22, currently studying for a sports science degree at Liverpool University, and ex-Crewe and Notts County man Francis Tierney.

They are both hoping to follow in the footsteps of central defender James Glendenning, who has just become the latest player to be drafted into Ward's senior squad after doing well in Joey Dunn's Alty second XI.. One player who has said his farewells at Moss Lane is ex-Rotherham midfielder Shaun Goodwin, who has joined Gainsborough.

WHAT RELIEF TO see that Scarborough are still with us (NLP August 27). Although I seldom see them, we would do well not to have too many "Maidstones". However, I hope the Seadogs will not forget their brush with fate.

One has nothing but admiration for Mr Mileson, who is pumping a not inconsiderable amount of money into the club -with little chance of a return. Even so, this success is tinged with just a little regret.

Having read about the despicable attitude of Coventry towards Doncaster, it is saddening to find that a Conference side - Scarborough should adopt a similar attitude towards a Football League side - Halifax Town.

As it is, Halifax continue to enjoy life in the Football League, but that is not to say an extra £46,000 wouldn't have made life more enjoyable.

Not so Altrincham, who appear to have lost £11,000. I am not saying this sum would have made that much difference, but it could have - and could possibly have saved them from relegation.

It is best to go forward with a clear conscience. That way you get the continuing respect of your opponents. As it is, Scarborough continue to progress and be one of the few full-time sides in the Conference. A situation which to some extent has been achieved at the sacrifice of others.

Had Halifax, Altrincham and others not made their sacrifices, Mr Mileson's money, considerable as it is, would have been no use whatsoever.

While the actions of their creditors is admirable, you cannot but wonder if they were not manipulated into it, after all, nobody wants bad publicity to be the cause of a club's demise.

Quite naturally Scarborough are anxious to get back into the League. May I remind them that many such sides have to sell their most promising players to survive.

I am sure that with Mr Mileson's backing, they will be better able to survive such traumas, but he is only human. One day the gravy train is likely to stop - what then?

To obviate such a situation, better to take small steps, rather than great big ones over the bodies of other clubs.

A.P Rowley, Southampton

ALTRINCHAM, non-League soccer's most famous FA Cup giant-killers, enter the competition tomorrow with the boot firmly on the other foot.

And that has prompted player/boss Mark Ward to warn his stars to take nothing for granted when they step out to face little Mossley in the second-qualifying round at Moss Lane.

Ward, who definitely won't be playing as he was due to enter hospital today for a cartilage operation, told MEN Sport: "Mossley will love it coming to our place, it's their Cup final, so we've got to see to it that we apply ourselves properly and get the job done.

"Altrincham have had a pretty lean time in the Cup these past few years and I want to see us back where we used to be, pitting ourselves against the big clubs and sometimes beating them.

"We also need the income that a Cup run can generate and all the lads are aware that, with the first-round proper just three wins away, tomorrow's is a really big game for us."

Alty's midweek win at Runcorn has kept them riding high in third in the UniBond premier division.

But Mossley are in an even richer vein of form. The Lilywhites lie second in the NWCL and have clocked up 10 successive league and cup victories since their opening-day defeat by Curzon Ashton, who they beat 3-0 on Tuesday.

Other top local Cup clashes tomorrow see unbeaten Stalybridge entertaining their UniBond premier rivals Blyth, Ashton United hosting Goole and up-for-sale Radcliffe at home to West Auckland.

On their Cup travels are on-song Droylsden, who visit Barrow, Hyde, due at NWCL leaders Clitheroe, and Salford City, who have signed former Tigers' star Ged Kimmins but too late for him to be eligible for their trip to Emley.

Meanwhile, in the Nationwide Conference, Leigh will be seeking to end a seven-match winless sequence by beating visiting Dover.

Rock-bottom Northwich are also desperately in need of a victory tonic at home to Hayes.

ALTRINCHAM FC this week launched their off-field bid to make a speedy return to the Nationwide Conference at the first attempt with the launch of a new sponsorship scheme which the club hopes will bring in much needed revenue.

The Altrincham Sponsors Bond (ASB) offers companies and individuals a choice of packages comprising match tickets, advertising, sponsorship and sporting events.

The ASB is the brainchild of local businessman and long-standing Altrincham supporter Mike Newlin.

"Everyone wants Altrincham Football Club to get back on its feet, and back in to the Conference. But we all want to enjoy our football as well.

"Hopefully the money which will come in to the club will give new manager Mark Ward the resources he needs to achieve his goal of promotion," explained Newlin, onetime manager of Altrincham's reserve team.

Robins' deputy chairman Mark Harris said, "We're delighted to be working so closely with someone of Mike's stature, and hope that we will be welcoming friends old and new back to Moss Lane this season