Macauley is hit by striker shortage

Jun 1 2007 Chester Chronicle

VAUXHALL Motors are in the hunt for a new strikeforce after being hit by a double blow.

Motors boss Carl Macauley is reeling from the news that Lee Furlong and Karl O'Donnell, who scored 20 goals between them last season, are both set to leave this summer.

Furlong, top scorer with 12 goals, has turned his back on the game at the age of 27, while the unsettled O'Donnell has been transfer listed.

Macauley describes Furlong's decision to retire due to family commitments as 'a huge mistake'.

He said: 'Lee was a star last season. He was too good for this level and should have been playing in the Conference.

'He was our top scorer and we missed him when he wasn't playing. I tried to talk him out of it but that is it, he has retired. I think it was a huge mistake.

'We will struggle to replace a player of his quality. With the budget we have we can't go in for big-name players and strikers are an expensive commodity at the best of times.

'I know I will have to ship players out before I can bring players in.

'With teams like Southport and Tamworth coming down next season, we need to be scoring goals to keep ourselves competitive.'

The reason for O'Donnell's departure is less clear-cut. The 21-year-old has been put on the transfer list after declaring himself unavailable for further selection by the Motormen.

Motors chairman Alan Bartlam said: 'It stemmed from a game against Worcester where he was played wide right.

'I thought he played well and was just unlucky, but he came off really having not enjoyed it. After that he seemed to lose interest in the game. He began making himself unavailable and had a meeting with the manager.

'It was not heated, but he made it clear he was not enjoying his football or life at Rivacre Park. At the end of the season he had 12 months to go on his contract but was still not happy so we agreed to place him on the transfer list.

'At the beginning of last season we were accused of being lightweight up front but by the end of the season, having lost Gary Martindale, John Lawless and Karl O'Donnell, we really were lightweight. Now we have to replace Lee Furlong too.

'Thomas Rooney and Anthony Wright did well towards the end of last season, but we need to bring in at least two players up front but I am sure the manager has irons in the fire.'

Defender Joe McMahon, midfielder Mike Garrity and keeper Sean Lake are the first three players retained by the Motormen for next season.

* Motors will gear up for the 2007-08 season by taking on Football league opposition at Rivacre Park. The Motormen have lined up pre-season friendlies against Macclesfield Town and neighbours Tranmere Rovers, who were beaten 1-0 on their last visit to Rivacre Park last summer.

The friendlies should provide a welcome boost to the Vauxhall coffers, not to mention a stern test for boss Carl Macauley and his players.

Tranmere are likely to bring with them a sizeable following, while there will be plenty of interest in the Macclesfield game as they are managed by former England, Liverpool and Manchester United enforcer Paul Ince.

Ince took over at Moss Rose last year and worked a minor miracle in steering the Silkmen away from relegation from League Two.

The Macclesfield match will take place on Monday, July 16 and is likely to be Motors' first run-out after two weeks of pre-season training.

Tranmere are due at Rivacre Park on Saturday, August 4, the week before league combat resumes. There is at least one more game against Football League opposition expected.