Gloucester City: Mehew plays the date game to get most from loan stars
GLOUCESTER City boss Dave Mehew is boxing clever in a bid to keep hold of loan stars Jordan Goddard and Mitch Harding.
The arrival of the Bristol Rovers recruits coincided with an upturn in form for the Tigers, one that saw the club reach the first round of the FA Cup for the first time in nearly a quarter of a century.
But with City out of action now until the visit of Boston United on December 5, Mehew is playing the date game in order to maximise the duo's availability.
City can loan the duo for a maximum of 93 days, and with it being 12 days before the pair can play again, they have returned to Bristol Rovers.
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"Mitch and Jordan have been recalled," Mehew confirmed. "The second month of their loan was due to end on December 2 so it makes sense to end it early.
"It means that if we can agree to get them back from Rovers, that we can have them for longer in the third month which is a sensible decision."
Mehew had no problems with the decision to postpone Wednesday night's game with Colwyn Bay as a deluge of rain left the Whaddon Road pitch unplayable.
And with no fixture tomorrow due to City's early exit from the FA Trophy, Mehew has decided to give his players a day-off to recharge their batteries.
That will allow a number of the squad to rest and recover from knocks and bumps before three tough training sessions next week.
"We can't do anything about the way the fixtures have fallen, but it does give us a chance to rest up a few bumps," Mehew said.
"Jack Harris would have missed the Colwyn Bay game and there are others who will benefit from a weekend off.
"But we'll train Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday next week and a few of them will benefit from a heart and lung workout during those sessions.
"We need to be ready for the Boston game and then a really busy December."
City's home game against Altrincham that was due to be played next weekend has been rescheduled for February 26.
The game had to be moved due to FA Rules governing the FA Cup competition that state no game can be played at a ground in the three days leading up to a televised FA Cup tie.
City's landlords Cheltenham Town's FA Cup second round tie against Hereford United on Monday, December 3 will be televised on ESPN, forcing City to move their game.
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