Allen: I need help to bring in Alsop
Martin Allen has appealed for potential backers to come up with the money needed to sign Julian Alsop on non-contract terms.
The Cheltenham Town manager is desperate to add the big striker to his squad, but is struggling to find the money in his budget to persuade Alsop to leave Southern League club Bishop's Cleeve and have another crack at League football.
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"I want to give Julian an opportunity and I want to sort it out properly," Allen said.
"It's not big bucks and if someone comes in and says they will help us out with it and volunteer some money, we can take him until Christmas, then we will review it."
Alsop left Cheltenham for Oxford United in 2003 before a spell with Northampton Town, but he dropped into non-League football and has not played full-time since December 2004.
He has rediscovered his love for the game at Cleeve and after working hard to raise his fitness levels he is aiming to complete a shock return to Whaddon Road.
Allen says Alsop, 36, will be as important in the dressing room and off the field as he is on it.
"Julian has a good personality, he is a real character and I like characters," Allen said.
"So far he has brought a very positive spirit and he has shown great fitness levels.
"He will be an asset and good for our younger players.
"We are short of numbers, he is local, he is popular with the supporters, popular in the dressing room and he has been great with the staff."
Alsop was set to make his third friendly appearance against Bristol City at the Abbey Business Stadium this afternoon.
He went on and scored against Weston-super-Mare last weekend and also appeared as a second-half substitute in the 0-0 draw with Southampton on Tuesday night.
"He was chasing around up there against Southampton and I wasn't expecting him to do that," Allen said.
"He was running around like he used to when he played up front with Tony Naylor in his first spell with Cheltenham."
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by Lord Bellend, Cheltenham
Monday, July 20 2009, 11:03PM
“The only help you need Allen....is from the man in the white coat......
If I were Chairman I,d sack you now......before you drag the club into the gutter !”
by Ned, Cheltenham
Monday, July 20 2009, 4:08PM
“I think Alsop is exactly the type of player we should be after. I guess it's time to admit, we just can't hack it in the Football League and we'd better start preparing for the Conference...”
by mike, bristol
Monday, July 20 2009, 3:50PM
“Any money raised should go towards a signing we need - ie Pook, or a left winger/right back.”
by Phil, Abbeymead
Monday, July 20 2009, 1:32PM
“Got to say thisis the funniest thing I have read for ages; not just because it shows how desperate CTFC are; but the way the "fans" are supporting their manager.
Keep going guys, as someelse said the nosie you can hear are the City and FGR fans crying with laughter.”
by bob houghton, france
Monday, July 20 2009, 12:56PM
“I thnk the problem here Richard is that it's very hard for fans to know who is responsible when things are going well and who is to blame when things go badly. My own view is, having seen what has happened since he left, that virtually all praise for what happened during our Beezer/ Conference/ Football League rise should be 100% down to Steve Cotterill. He made excellent signings (Dale Watkins, Clive Walker etc) and got players of limited pedigree (Mark Freeman is the best example) playing to the very maximum of their ability, believing in themselves and a great team ethic. I don't think that Martin Allen has achieved any of these attributes by a million miles. He has signed rubbish, the decent players have underperformed and there is an air of resentment among the players (if many of the previous posts are to be believed) which has done nothing for team spirit. The squad he is 'putting together' now are casts offs, has beens and untried youngsters - the reason for which is largely because of the terrible financial situation that he has played no small part in creating. I forecast that he will not find that staying at Cheltenham feeds his ego sufficiently and, as soon as the season starts to go egg shaped, will go for the first offer that comes his way.”
by Glos City Fan, Gloucester
Monday, July 20 2009, 12:01PM
“I'll throw in a fiver and maybe you can get Jimmy Smith back as well. Keep up the good work Allen, this is amazing”
by OC, Chelt
Monday, July 20 2009, 11:37AM
“Allen was watching a different game to me if he thought Jules was running around like did 5 years ago. Give it up Martin, before you make a bigger laughing stock of yourself. With Denton and Hayles on board other positions need your attention.”
by Richard lll, Cheltenham
Monday, July 20 2009, 10:49AM
“Mick - surely it's a bit harsh to ignore all of PB's successes by the recent slump (caused by the board + manager together I think). PB has done more as Chairman of CT than any other in our history. The club has had success far beyond what 99% of fans could've dreamed of. We were promoted 3 times in quick succession, but unfortunately, once we got into the League, the support didn't really improve by as much as the board would've hoped for. if the support had increased to 5,000 to 6,000 when got into League 1, then we may still be in that division, you can't blame that on the board - the county of Glos just doesn't support football as well as other local sports (Rugby, Horse Racing + Cricket). I know I'm in the minority when I say this, but I'm willing to judge MA on what he does this season, with the squad he put together through the summer. I think the club will start to recover this season + move on from there. There are clubs in much worse positions than us, so it's not all doom + glomm - in my book anyway.”
by Danny B, Cheltenham
Monday, July 20 2009, 9:57AM
“Honestly, I had to re-read this article because it just didn't seem like reality. Things have gotten to a dreadfully depressing point when you're appealing to fans to donate towards Alsop's beer money so he'll come and play a bit of league football.
Surely a guy who's been playing at such a low level (and is an overweight 36 year-old lump) can't command a wage of any note.
Maybe we should get rid of Allen and his (probable) over-inflated salary and then bring in a young and enthusiastic Manager who would command a lesser wage but would care more about the club.
Bloomer anyone...?”
by len, glos
Monday, July 20 2009, 9:26AM
“It is no coincidence that the time when the club is spiralling into financial ruin and probable administration is when the idiot Allen is manager. What the club needed 12 months ago was stability and the choice of manager could not have been worse. it was said at the time - only the slack jaws behind the home goal welcomed a manager known - affectionately ?? - as Mad Dog.”