Ritchie: Take or leave me ... ... only please believe me - you ain't ever gonna be respectabowl (respectabowl).
Found It....... BARNSLEY manager Andy Ritchie has issued a 'back me or sack me' message to chairman Gordon Shepherd in the wake of a radio interview in which Shepherd voiced concern about why new players had not been brought into the club. Shepherd was asked about Ritchie signing a new contract and insisted that he was more concerned about strengthening the squad and forthcoming matches. Ritchie was on a scouting mission in Dublin last night, watching the Republic of Ireland B draw 0-0 with Scotland's second string side. He will sit down tomorrow for clear the air talks with the chairman. "I'll say, 'back me or sack me,'" he confirmed. Ritchie was in Ireland on the look out an experienced defender and a goal scorer to bolster his squad ahead of Saturday's trip to Crystal Palace. Meanwhile the Oakwell chief has defended his transfer policy in the wake of Shepherd's criticism, explaining why he did not sign ex-Brighton striker Colin Kazim-Richards or midfielders Ritchie Jones, from Manchester United and Middlesbrough's Matthew Bates. Ritchie said that he was advised by three different sources not to recruit Kazim-Richards. "I spoke to Sir Alex Ferguson about Jones and he wanted the lad to start games. At that time our midfield two were playing all right and we had Colin Healy in reserve. "I called Don Mackay at Middlesbrough about Bates. The call was never returned. Ritchie added: "Anyway what do all those three players have in common? They're young. We need experienced players who can come in and boss the players we've got." Kazim-Richards is now at Sheffield United, Jones has gone on loan to Colchester and Bates is joining Ipswich temporarily. Barnsley Reserves were beaten 2-1 at Nottingham Forest yesterday. Barnsley interest in Phil Mulryne cooled after the former Norwich and Cardiff midfielder broke down injured, lasting 20 minutes of the game before pulling up with a hamstring problem. Grant Holt fired Forest ahead. Michael Coulson equalised before James Beaumont netted the winner 10 minutes before the end.