Lord Hails Hatters’ Front Pair

NEW Stockport County manager Alan Lord has praised in-form strike force Phil Jevons and Rhys Turner after his impressive start to life at the Hatters’ helm continued.

Both forwards were on target twice in Tuesday’s 4-2 Skrill North win at Barrow, with veteran striker Jevons’ brace taking his haul to eight in seven matches since now-permanent boss Lord took over from Ian Bogie as caretaker.

Lord told The NLP: “Phil’s been a revelation since I took over. His work-rate is unbelievable, considering that we play him more as a pocket striker than a point striker. He’s very intelligent, he’s got an awful lot of respect off the players around him and I think he’s found a good level of confidence.

“Every time we start now, it’s a surprise when he doesn’t score. He’s doing great.”

Eighteen-year-old Turner made it three goals in two games, and Lord paid tribute to his predecessor Bogie for his signing.

“I actually brought Rhys in on trial two years ago for the youth team, but he only got half a game and they let him go,” says Lord. “He came and played for me for two years in the Under-18 floodlit team I manage at Myerscough College, and he was outstanding for that age.

“I recommended him to Ian in the summer, and he said ‘If you rate him, we’ll get him signed’. Ian hadn’t seen him, but he went off my word. He gave Rhys an opportunity that he might not have got elsewhere and deserves great credit for that. He was a great fella.”

 

*BIG INTERVIEW WITH ALAN LORD IN SUNDAY’S NON-LEAGUE PAPER