SANCHEZ STRIKER SEARCH
(Monday 26th February 2001)
Lawrie Sanchez could be getting help from fellow FA Cup headline makers Tranmere Rovers. Sanchez was jointly awarded the SKYSports Performance of the Week along with Rovers boss John Aldridge and it was hinted that the duo were also taking together on an "unrelated matter" during a feature on BBC's Football Focus programme.
It's thought that Sanchez is on the search for another striker after seeing his entire front-line wiped out by injuries and loan breakdowns in recent weeks. Leading scorer Andy Rammell is doubtful for the FA Cup Quarter-Final tie with Leicester City after aggravating his groin strain in the cup replay with Wimbledon, while Andy Baird is likely to miss the rest of the season after suffering medial ligament damage in the same game.
Chelsea youngster Sam Parkin played the last game of his loan spell at Peterborough on Saturday (24th February) and Canadian triallist Niall Thompson was forced off injured. With long term injuries to Sean Devine and Danny Senda, there are no other experienced strikers at the Club and Sanchez has been forced to play with midfielder Keith Ryan as part of the strike force in recent games.
Tranmere currently have two players on the transfer list - former Wigan striker Stuart Barlow and ex-Bristol City and Swindon targetman Wayne Allison. A move for Barlow is unlikely as he's probably out of Wycombe's price range and also cup-tied having player in Rovers recent cup run - including coming on as substitute in the remarkable comeback against Southampton.
Allison, on the other hand, is not cup tied having not played for Rovers since falling out of favour with Aldridge after the 4-0 reverse at home to Wimbledon just before Christmas.
6'1" Allison joined Tranmere in September 1999 from Huddersfield Town for £300,000. In his first season at Prenton Park he netted 19 goals in 44 appearances and became a favourite with the fans. However, the man known as 'The Chief', was reported to have said he "he was no longer enjoying his football at Tranmere" and a move looks inevitable. 
If Wycombe swoop for the 32 year old it could mean he is thrown straight into the limelight for the Quarter-Final tie with Leicester. Ironically, Allison missed out on an appearance against Leicester in last season's Worthington Cup Final because he had played in earlier round for Huddersfield.
Wycombe know that anything that might give a chance of causing an upset at Filbert Street is worth considering because of the gold-mine of revenue that would be generated from a semi-final tie. The question is, just how much of a risk are the Board willing to take?

Back to newsdesk >>>

THE GAS
 ROOM
Leave your own stories and comments via the Message Board