Fixture backlog forces Fell's hand

With the Rams facing at least 17 games in the nine weeks before the end of the EVO-STIK League North season after the British weather played havoc with the winter fixture schedule, manager Mark Fell added forward Sam Madeley, defender Ryan Ellison, midfielder Chinedu Uche and defender Jay Sheridan to his squad at the Riverside Stadium on Tuesday.

Madeley needs no introduction to Non-League fans having turned out for FC United, Macclesfield, Nantwich and Warrington. The 27-year-old frontman arrives on a dual registration deal from National League North Curzon Ashton.

Ellison signed on a permanent deal from Clitheroe. A product of the academies at Manchester City and Sunderland, the 21-year-old already has plenty of Non-League experience behind him at Hyde and Stockport County.

Fell snapped up Uche and Sheridan from Oldham Athletic on work experience loans. Uche has been involved in the first team set-up at Boundary Park on several occasions this season, as has left-back Sheridan, the son of former Oldham boss John Sheridan.

Fell said: “Loan signings that have come to us have done very well, look at Regan Ogle and Josh Askew from last season and the impact Zehn Mohammed has had. Sometimes we have to use that market to get us what we need – both these lads are excellent players. I’ve watched them both several times this season and I know they have what it takes to handle the physicality of this league.

"Sam is an established player at this level and above, he knows some of the lads in the dressing room already so he’ll fit in quickly, he's an excellent players. We’ve a crazy schedule for the next two months and although we’ve no big injury worries at the moment, we need to be aware that once the transfer deadline has gone we don’t want to be left short, we expect to have a defender in as well within the week.

“On paper it looks like we’ve used a lot of players, 42 registered I believe, but the core of the team hasn’t really changed. That includes 12 young or squad players that we’ve only used in the Integro Cup or as cover off the bench, five goalkeepers – three of which have had serious injuries and five players who have left for improved contracts at another club that we couldn’t match."

In a statement ahead of his side's 3-1 defeat at home to Scarborough Athletic on Tuesday night, he added: "These three signings bring competition into some areas in which we are light, I want players to fight for the shirt and bring performances that show us all that, starting against Scarborough. What the team needs now if everyone’s support and I hope that the supporters will turn out in good numbers to back their team.”

Images courtesy of clitheroefc.co.uk & @RamsbottomUtd/Twitter

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