Deano baffled by Weston comments (From South Wales Argus)

Deano baffled by Weston comments

1:10pm Friday 4th September 2009 in Latest Football By Michael Pearlman

NEWPORT County manager Dean Holdsworth is interested in Weston aces Craig Rand and Ashan Holgate, but has hit out at former Exile and Weston boss Andy Gurney, insisting it is his club trying to push through the sale of the players.

Holdsworth, speaking ahead of tomorrow’s visit to Welling United, said he is baffled by comments from Gurney that the Exiles made an approach for the duo. He is keen on the pair, though not at the expense of any of his own players.

The boss revealed that the proposed deal came about because Gurney wants to sign County skipper Aaron Cook.

He explained: “I want to talk about this because it’s important to me that my players don’t get led up the garden path.

“Tim Harris (County general manager) received a call on Tuesday from Weston saying that they wanted Aaron Cook in exchange for Craig Rand (defender) and to see if we were interested in signing Ashan Holgate (midfielder).

“Now we are always looking to increase the competition in our squad and, of course, both Rand and Holgate would appeal to us as they are excellent players.

“We’ve made no secret of our aims or ambitions for the club, but I want my players to know that in no way did we make any approach.

“Aaron Cook has not been offered to anyone from my part, he’s captain here and we are not interested in him going anywhere.”

Holdsworth is hopeful of being without just two players for tomorrow’s long trip to Kent, Nathan Davies, who is suspended, and Takumi Ake, who finally had surgery yesterday on his damaged anterior cruciate knee ligament.

Defender Martyn Giles, who has been suffering with deep bruising following a nasty dead leg in the Chelmsford game, was being monitored in training last night, Holdsworth hopeful he’d be available for selection.

County are 14 games unbeaten in the Blue Square South and boss Holdsworth insists he once again faces a difficult team selection as he shuffles his pack.

“It’s tough again, nearly everyone played their part over the Bank Holiday weekend,” he said.

“The attitude of the players has been sensational and we’ll look to go there and play the very best we can.

“We’ll continue to take it one game at a time, I think promoted sides can’t get away with losing more than seven to nine games and we want to remain undefeated for as long as possible.”

County (from): Thompson, Blackburn, Bignot, Giles, Cook, Colborne, Cochlin, Warren, Leek, Cooper, Rose, Foley, Rogers, Turk, Henry, Gilroy, Reid, Bradley