<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="3" width="100%" border="0"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2">Ronnie names targets </td></tr><tr><td colspan="2"><hr class="k0" size="1" />LATICS boss Ronnie Moore admitted his search for a new midfielder and a striker was rapidly becoming ‘a nightmare’ ahead of Thursday's loan deadline. Having had the thumbs up from the club’s owners on Monday to bring fresh blood in, Moore was waiting for a phone call as the Advertiser went to press. In case anybody was in any doubts as to how hard the club had worked, Moore named the players he had been tracking. He said: “It’s been a nightmare to be honest, we’ve phoned umpteen clubs. We’ve been trying to get Warren Feeney from Luton Town, Nick Chadwick at Plymouth Argyle, Michael Chopra at Newcastle United, and Gifton Noel-Williams who’s at Burnley. “Danny Graham at Middlesbrough was another one as were (Chris) Brown and (Daryl) Murphy at Sunderland because we thought we could give them games. “I’ve been hanging on and seeing what we can do in midfield as well because Jim Magilton wants this season and another year on top, so we’ve got to decide on that. “Paul McLaren (Rotherham United) was another one as was Karl Henry at Stoke City – I’ve seen him play quite a lot but I’ve been banging on doors and been getting nowhere. “Michael Cummins at Port Vale was another, but we’re looking for them to come in now and for next season. “Smaller squads are killing everyone in the lower divisions because you only get kids from the Premiership and Championship squads are carrying 24 or 25 players.” If anybody does come in before the weekend, they face a debut against a Blackpool side which is pulling clear of the League One relegation zone. Two wins and two draws in four matches prior to Tuesday’s trip to Bradford City had put them in 17th spot. Last weekend brought a 1-0 win against Port Vale with Gareth Williams scoring on his debut after arriving on loan from Colchester United with Sam Stockley in a deal which saw ex-Latic Scott Vernon head to Layer Road. Victory would put Latics in the play-off zone with only seven games if other results went their way, but this season has shown Moore that nothing can be taken for granted. He said: “If we perform like we did against Bradford then we will be OK – if we perform like we did in the first half at Rotherham then we’ll get nothing. “They’ve had a decent run but we’re the form team in the division. Anything can happen though – the bottom teams can beat the top sides in this league.” Richie Wellens will be given until the last minute to prove his fitness with Latics’ staff concerned his back injury may have spread to his calves.</td></tr></tbody></table>
The last line... ..."Latics staff worried his back injury could have spread to his calves"???????????????</p>
