Hall Says Keeper Role Open

Zephyr Rovers Manager Steve Hall says he's been surprised at how many people apparently think he isn't the man for the keeper role. "I don't even want to play in goal but do it because no one else seems to want to" confessed Hall "looks like I might have to rotate the position a bit more and test the skills of the rest of the team between the sticks". Hall said a few of his throw outs were getting intercepted in Division 1 but he thought that was in part because Rovers players weren't coming to the ball and were standing stationary. "Division 1 is a bit harder than Division 3 and the other teams are much better at intercepting" said Hall "but it is our first season in the big time and we never expected it to be easy so we have to continue to build". Hall said that whilst he was born in Stoke-On-Trent he had never said he was Gordon Banks (pictured). "Everyone knows I support Port Vale and Banksie played for Stoke" indicated Hall "but I'll have another crack in goal tomorrow and then access our options".

Hall Wins Keeper Poll

In a surprisingly close contest, Zephyr Rovers Manager Steve Hall has won an Internet vote as best Rovers keeper. "I do play in goal more than anyone else so I expected a few votes" said Hall "but I know Chopper has legions of fans out there and John Cao has his family connection voting for him". Hall said he'd worked on his game and had picked himself in the role after watching several of the other team members in the role. "I think it was evident as far back as when Charlie Smith was between the sticks that some people don't have the knack for the goalie role" said Hall "so I put myself in there and found out that my huge bulk filled up half the goal before I even moved". Hall said he was looking into getting sponsorship so that he could increase his intake of burgers and chips. "The Bull and Bear does a very reasonable $12 Burger and Chips" said Hall "and I thought we might take them on as a secondary sponsor if the team can go there for a free scoff every Friday".

Smith Abandons Saints

Charlie Smith has finally come to his senses and abandoned his support for the Saints only weeks before the season proper starts. "We wondered when he went over to the dark side whether he had been taking hallucinogenic drugs" said Rovers Manager Hall "but then we realised he must have been to support Pompey in the first place". Smith was understood to have recently caught up with a former Pompey Manager in a Perth pub and saw the error of his ways. "I met this geezer in the pub who knew a lot about football and it turned out he was a former Pompey Manager" said Smith "anyway it was a life changing experience and I've come back to my senses". Some sections of the media are thought to believe this is a cheap publicity stunt but Smith disagrees. "I had to buy that Saints shirt and it wasn't cheap" quipped Smith.

Hall Back

Zephyr Rovers Manager Steve Hall said the Rovers line up would be the same as last week apart from his own return to the team. "Personally I consider my return strengthens the team but I'm not exactly sure what the rest of the team think" said Hall "but having just completed a management course I feel confident that management by fear is a good technique for short term gains". Hall said he wasn't strictly speaking on a people management course but thought the skills you applied to managing anything probably applied to football as well. "I wouldn't like to extrapolate this view too far" said Hall "as clearly somethings are easier to manage than others and managing a first division indoor football team is obviously right up there as regards difficulty level".

Cao Kid Calls For Poll

John Cao said this evening that whilst he was running a close third in the current best keeper poll, he felt that a poll for 'most handsome player' would be the true test of the teams capabilities. "This is a spectator sport and I want to see a poll on who is the best looking player" said Cao "I've heard my legs are pretty good so I think I'd have a starters chance of winning a poll like that". Zephyr Rovers Manager Steve Hall suggested such a poll might be a close run thing. "I know John fancies his chances in this one but I also know George rates himself as the dark horse, so it might be a close one" said Hall "but I know John has a good fan base so he'll probably just get ten votes from his family before we even get into the true voting". Hall said he had no idea what if any polls were coming up but thought if Nash pulled in the Scottish vote he'd be home and hosed.

Fernandes To Move On?

Zephyr Rovers Manager Steve Hall congratulated Marketing Manager Heather Fernandes this evening for obtaining a role as a Service Delivery Manager but said he hoped she would be staying on as Rovers Marketing Chief. "We know it is difficult to balance two roles but other management team members are doing their bit to promote the club so I think Heather can stay on to provide us with the odd bit of guidance" said Hall "and besides she likes her bling and this is a blingy sort of club". Hall also confirmed Rovers had yet to receive a single applicant for the long vacant Swedish Masseuse role and were thinking of widening the search to include Danish applicants. "The lads wouldn't know their Swedes from Danes anyway" suggested Hall "and we might even get away with a Norwegian".

Bellies Beat Rovers

Jimmy Five Bellies narrowly eclipsing Zephyr Rovers 6 - 4 today at the Shed of Dreams. "We had a bit of an availability crisis with only five players and this was amplified when Matty did his usual trick of turning up at half time" said acting Manager George Nash (pictured) "but fortunately we got a stand in but unfortunately we were 5 - 1 down by half time". Rovers fought back in the second half and out scored Bellies but the lead proved insurmountable and Rovers crashed to a second loss in Division 1. "It's looking very even though and there is very little between any of the teams" said Nash "so if you can turn out a good line up each week then you're in with a good chance of doing well". Manager Steve Hall said it was a reasonable performance in the circumstances but he thought his managerial input and outstanding goalkeeping skills might have made the difference. "I'm not casting aspersions" said Hall "I'm sure George did the best he could".

Final: Rovers 4 Bellies 6