Who’d be a manager … but more to the point, who’d be a chairman? It’s been quite a week for Oldham Athletic’s Simon Corney, you could say. Beating Liverpool was beyond his wildest dreams and now his team has a chance to claim the scalp of another Premier League giant in the shape of Everton.
However, I can sense Simon doesn’t feel lucky right now as he knows his club won’t win the FA Cup and he realises the importance of League 1 survival more than most.
Having given his manager the dreaded vote of confidence this week, Corney has been looking on proudly as his captain, Dean Furman, flies the flag at the African Cup of Nations. And as young Dean sets his sights on a dream semi-final against Didier Drogba’s Ivory Coast, Corney and co are preparing for a not so glamorous game away at Walsall.
* Talking of managers, two men with the midas touch will be back in the spotlight on Sunday as the ambitious Republic of Flixton tackles Chigwell Athletic in the national round of the Peter Morrison Trophy.
Stuart Delmonte and Tony Rosenberg will look to repeat their heroics of 2011, when they steered Manchester Maccabi to the trophy, as they take on the east Londoners at the Accounts Direct Stadium.
Chigwell must watch out for Republic hotshot Rob Jacobs who has fired 25 goals in 11 games, while keeper Dan Garman has only conceded two goals in 11 games this season.
Chigwell are missing Rob Shepherdson, skipper Daniel Castle, Russell Brill, Glenn Davis, Jonathan Swead, Simon Felstein, Lee Hyams and Alex Norman, but manager Richard Slater can call on stalwarts Jonathan Raven and Darren Kay, both of whom are now based in Liverpool.
There’s also a north versus south tie in London where Camden Park take on Haroldeans. The Merseysiders have not played for a month due to the bad weather, but manager Fraser Saville is confident his team can progress. He said: "Last year, Hyde Park went to London and beat Shirley Park so we know it is possible."
* Jewish-owned greyhound Muzzle Tov is determined to go out with a bang after claiming his fifth win in nine races at Romford. Now, the syndicate, which includes Eliot Pollak, Edward Schwab, Daniel Hanstater and Aryeh Berkley, are looking to push him back into some A4 races.
Pollak said: "He’s got around six months left racing as he’s coming up to his fifth birthday. We’re looking to give him a good send-off before he retires gracefully and keeps the residents of Nightingale House entertained."
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