Stockport pitch worries Turner ahead of game

It's coming to something when a football manager daren't risk bringing back any of his players who have bveen out injured because the pitch could be dangerous. But that's the situation Hartlepool caretaker boss Chris Turner finds himswelf in ahead of Tuesday night's game at Stockport, the home of Sale Sharks rugby union team.

Anybody who saw Sale v Newcastle Falcons on the telly over the weekend will agree that the Edgeley Park pitcch is a bit of a mess, and because the rugby club are the landlords now, the needs of football tend to come second.
In fact, they come so far behind that Stockport are in financial difficulties, with manager Jim Gannon saying his position had become untenable at the time when he was being interviewed for the vacant Brighton job.
In the end, he turned Brighton down and chose to stay at Stockport - perhaps being short of money is better than being relegated.
But there's not a lot he can do about a pitch that takes a lot of hammer from rugb y one weekend and football another, especially aftrer a cold winter.
So Pools will probably not risk the likes of Richie Jones, Matty Robson and one or two others who have been out injured lately.
After Saturday's unlucky home defeat against Peterborough, Pools are not in the clear yet and they still need points for League One safety.
They go to struggling Cheltenham on Saturday, and results in both games would do them the world of good.