Taff remains at Stockport - despite a falling out

By Albatross
February 17 2004

Anthony Williams is remaining on loan at Stockport County - even though the out of favour Hartlepool United keeper has had to apologise to fans after an incident last weekend. He could yet be facing Pools this season - but would have been hoping to earn a permanent deal with the Hatters.

With County's other keeper being the 18 year old James Spencer, Williams has found himself finally getting some first team football - though from the reaction of many Stockport fans, he's not exactly the radical improvement they were looking for. Already he's been beaten nine times in just four matches; although to be fair he did keep a clean sheet at Wrexham, and is playing behind a defence that is so lacking in confidence and continuity that shutting out their opponents is something that has happened just five times overall this season.

However he also had a bust up with a section of the crowd during Saturday's 4-2 home defeat to Swindon, and has had to make a public apology via the official Hatters website. Hardly an auspicious start for the Welsh stopper, and the reaction on what seems to be one of the more popular unofficial Message Boards (www.marionsboard.com) seems to be that the signing for another two months of the out of favour goalie pretty much puts the tin lid on it as far as their chances of avoiding relegation goes.

While Stockport aren't dead and buried yet, the signs are ominous; currently they are five points away from safety, while if Grimsby can take something from either of their games in hand then the gap could be six points - or even more unless results pick up. Their clash this weekend with the other County, Notts, is already looking to be a crunch game - and it's a game that Taff is almost certain to be involved in. This time last season he was in a side that was on the verge of promotion, now he looks to be part of one going the other way...

One thing that could be entertaining is 16th March - on that day Stockport will visit the Vic. It's possible that Pools have placed a condition that he can't play against us (though no doubt a few wags will argue that it should be made a condition that he does), but if he does play then the reception he gets could be interesting. To paraphrase Richie Humphreys' book title, he could easily be going from cheers to jeers.

One question that does arise is why the deal is not already permanent. The transfer deadline is on March 25th, and Taff's two month extension takes him well past that - but also finishes before the end of the season. It could of course be that money is an issue - it's possible that as with one or two other loan deals involving players leaving Pools that we're paying a share of the wages - but it must be a trifle worrying for Taff; being relegated would be bad enough, but without the security of a contract for next season it would leave him very much in limbo.