Stewart Fight Goes On!
Friday, 16th Feb 2001 08:32

Despite the loss of the initial appeal Town are fighting on to try and get Marcus Stewart's red card overturned. Chairman David Sheepshanks was in talks with the FA yesterday and they have agreed to allow Town another appeal.

Sheepshanks said: "I have personally spoken to the FA to explain to them how very strongly we feel about the situation. They have agreed to give the matter further consideration. We hope to hear the outcome shortly and, as soon as we know we will make a full statement."

Yesterday there was confusion when the FA released details of the advisory panel's decision to the press before alerting the club. Late in the afternoon word of a second appeal emerged as a result of talks between Sheepshanks and the FA.

The Town chairman added: "When I heard the verdict of the advisory panel I appealed to the FA for the case to be looked at by the full disciplinary process. Having studied the video very carefully, under proper conditions, I remain of the view that a straight red card offence was not committed. That is why we have asked the FA to look at it again."

Neither George Burley or Marcus Stewart will be commenting on the situation until it is resolved.

Town have a number of injuries ahead of a weekend with no fixture and at least one player out for the Everton game. Gary Croft sustained medial ligament damage at Highbury and is out for a month.

Meanwhile, Fabian Wilnis and Hermann Hreidarsson are both on the mend after their hamstring problems. John Scales is also on the road to recovery after his similar problem (see his column for details: http://www.twtd.co.uk/scales

class="storytext">Amir Karic is still suffering with the knock sustained in the reserves the other night which saw Southampton's Chris Baird see red. The Slovenian has a knock to his leg. Sean Friars went off with a hamstring problem in the latter stages.

Mark Venus has been down with flu this week, but he will almost certainly be OK for the Everton game.

Alun Armstrong has a back problem, although it isn't thought that it will keep him out or the next game.

George Burley has met up with Romeo Zondervan for his ongoing trawl for players in Europe. It is still being suggested that he was at the Leeds-Anderlecht game on Tuesday and that he will be watching games in Belgium over the weekend involving the targets already mentioned:

Genk's Marc Hendrikx and Tom Soetaers of Dutch club Roda JC Kerkrade.

Both trialists, US international Cobi Jones and Manchester United youngster Stephen Cosgrove are due to finish their spells at the club at the end of the week.

Jones said: "I'd love to play in England again and I think I'm good enough. If not at Ipswich, I'll try my luck elsewhere."

Town would have to offer the American a long-term contract in order to get a work permit for him.

As for Cosgrove he didn't impress fans with his two reserve performances and George Burley said: "The boy has played in two reserve games and done OK. I'll be speaking to him."

Photo: Action Images

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