Eaton's name in frame for Rams job

3:50pm Friday 16th May 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

Barry Eaton is being heavily linked with the vacant Dewsbury Rams job.

It is no surprise the Keighley player-coach's name has been touted following his side's stunning start to the National League Two campaign.

The table-toppers head to York on Sunday looking for a seventh victory so far - form that may have alerted his former club, who sacked chief Andy Kelly earlier this week.

However, the aspiring young coach insisted: "I'm aware of the speculation but that's all it is at this moment in time.

"I'm concentrating on this weekend with Keighley and I've not spoken to anyone from Dewsbury.

"I did spend six good years there and if anything happens then we'll deal with it, or the club will.

"But it's going great here at Keighley and I'm really pleased how things are shaping up, so it would take something really special for me to leave."

The Rams are currently bottom of National League One, still awaiting their first win.

Eaton, 35, has been mentioned as Kelly's potential successor along with Batley player-coach Francis Maloney, former Hull KR boss Gary Wilkinson and even ex-Keighley, Salford and England supremo Karl Harrison.

However, it is hard to see him moving on if struggling Dewsbury do come calling, having worked hard to turn around the Cougars' fortunes, laying the foundations for a promising future there and recently signing a new deal.

Meanwhile, Eaton has been forced into a change for Sunday's clash.

In-form Neil Lowe - who signed from York over the winter - misses out on a first return to his former club due to a foot injury, Greg Nicholson coming in to replace the second-row.

Eaton said: "We're giving Neil a rest as his foot is still giving him trouble.

"He's been playing with pain-killing injections recently but on the hard ground it's not settling down enough in between games.

"Hopefully a week off will help it do that while Greg Nicholson has been outstanding in the last two reserve matches so he deserves a shot."

Wayne Sutcliffe has also been added to the squad and Eaton said: "We know it's going to be tough at York.

"In their last three games, they have walloped Blackpool and Swinton and given Doncaster a real run for their money.

"They seem to be getting to where they want to be. It's going to be a massive game and we're treating it as such."