Coughlan backs Sturrock - exclusive

Last updated : 14 August 2006 By Andy Parsons

The Irish defender was reacting to reports that the club has been 'destabilised' following comments by Dave Allen that the manager's contract would not be renegotiated until at least Christmas.

Allen released a statement saying that there was no rift but he was asked a question by Radio Sheffield about the manager's contract and he answered honestly - although Sturrock was disappointed with the news because the conversation he had with the chairman was a private one.

And despite a slow start to the current campaign, The Owls, who have half their squad out with injury are performing well with the resources at hand.

Coughlan told Footymad: "You look at this stage last season and after three games we were sat on two points. We all know the problems at the club at the moment but the manager is working with his hands tied and he doesn't have the resources or the money.

"There's a lot of uncertainty at the football club but we need a centre forward. He knows that, we know that. We need a target man or a proven goalscorer and it's not rocket science we are all aware of that but it's not happening or coming in. I think the boys keep proving that they would run through a brick wall for the manager and so far the boys have been doing really well for him.

"Obviously we do have some injuries at the moment and we are two or three players short of a really decent team. The injury situation is crazy but there's very little we can do about it. Little niggles here and there are ok but the boys are getting serious injuries and there's been an awful lot of talk about witch doctor coming in to sort that out! But you have to say with the resources and what Paul Sturrock has to work with, you have to take your hat off to him because he is up against it. But he revels in that type of scenario.

"There was a bombshell on Friday night and the texts and callers were going mad on the radio station after comments were made about the gaffer had put a lot of uncertainty around the football club. But to his credit, he has lifted the football club and the sixteen boys in the squad have gone out for him again. Some people may want to knock the gaffer but that's ludicrous."

On the Burnley game and the start in general, Coughlan added: "I wouldn't say it was a decent point to be honest because I thought we should have taken all three but they had one opportunity and took it. It's a bit disappointing because the winger had all the time in the world to put the cross in, three of their boys have gone for the ball at the back post when none of ours did and won in.

"Overall it's disappointing because we should be sitting on four points and with a little bit of luck we could be sitting on nine but that's football and there's no point whinging over it. We have got all sorts of problems at this football club but yet again credit must go to the manager because he has come up with a system, forced the opposition to play their hand and over the three games I think we have played really well."