POn web but pulled out of paper

ALBION Sports boss Kulwinder Sandhu is thankful of his contacts at another club with the same Lions nickname after filling out his squad with young Guiseley players.

Sports lost six of last term's regulars during the summer so Sandhu had a decimated squad when his players returned for pre-season.

But there was good news on the injury front as a handful of his more established men who missed large chunks of last season reported back fit and ready to go.

Sandhu said: "It's difficult when you're having to rebuild but Mark Bower and Dave Currie, who's the head of youth development at Guiseley, have been brilliant with us.

"I've know Mark for a number of years and when I told him that we were a few players down, he offered to help us out.

"Mark would like to see a few of the young players that have come through the system at Guiseley in proper first-team competitive action to see what their character is like.

"He and Dave got their heads together and they sent some young lads that Dave regards highly. They sent five or six very promising lads my way and they are part of our squad so it's good for both parties."

The Sports manager was deflated when he came back after his summer break, worried about the prospects of the new campaign. But now he is looking forward not backwards and feels that his club can better last season's 11th-place finish.

Sandhu said: "With a little bit of help from Mark and Guiseley, we now have a full squad again and hopefully we'll bounce back stronger than ever.

"I take things to heart, especially regarding my club, and I want us to keep progressing as we have down the years.

"I've been here for more than 35 years. I might be the longest-serving manager in the country and if you cut me in half, it would say Albion Sports.

"That's why I'm so passionate about what I do and why I want the best for the club."