MARTIN Eatough will not be applying for the vacant manager's job at his former club Lancaster City - despite being linked with the post by outgoing boss Alan Tinsley.

The Great Harwood supremo said he thought long and hard about returning to the Dolly Blues, but decided his loyalty must remain with the Showground side.

He said: "I had three great years at Lancaster City and I am very flattered just to be linked with the job. But Great Harwood gave me my first managerial chance and I owe it to them to repay that trust.

"I have said to a few of my players who have not been able to get into the side to remain loyal to the club. Now it is my turn to show that same commitment.

"Lancaster City said they will only appoint a manager who applies for the post. I am not going to apply for the post and would not accept it if approached.

He added: "They are a big club and I am sure they will be inundated with applicants. There will not be any problem filling the position."

Last weekend's 4-1 win over Flixton lifted Town to fifth place in Unibond League Division One but with three games in hand over the leading pack.

On Saturday Great Harwood travel to Whitley Bay and are on the road again on Tuesday when they travel to Netherfield in the First Division Cup.

ACCRINGTON Stanley's furious boss Tony Greenwood has slapped all his players on the transfer list, saying they lack passion and commitment to the club.

The manager's astonishing actions followed cup defeats at the hands of Barrow last week and Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Bedworth.

He said: "Saturday's performance was terrible. None of the players wanted to win and that simply is not on.

"I played with heart and passion in my day and I expect the same from my players. When you are going through a bad patch it is not all about skill, it's about commitment and the will to win. That doesn't seem to happening at the moment.

"Some of the players think they have an easy life here and I may well be listening to reasonable offers for all of them."

Greenwood will be looking for a big improvement for Saturday's visit of Unibond Premier League high-flyers Blyth Spartans - a game Peter Mellor will miss through injury. On Wednesday Stanley go to Bishop Auckland.

IAN McGarry's Darwen Babes will be looking to put the calamity of having five players sent off in two games behind them when they entertain Prescot on Saturday.

The North West Counties League Division One side is set to take action against the referee who was in control of both games - but McGarry is more concerned with his young side returning to their winning ways.

After Tuesday night's 1-0 defeat at Burscough, McGarry said: "We are a young side and are learning after each game we play. I'm happy with our effort."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.