Wolves Sporting boss Andy Paddock calls for a fixture rethink

Title-chasing Sporting still have a staggering 17 Premier Division games to play and are also chasing glory in the Staffs Senior Vase, the League Cup and the JW Hunt Cup.

The league have extended the season by a week to May 5 to help cope with the backlog caused by the weather but Paddock believes more midweek games should be played earlier in the season.

Sporting are due to travel to Wolverhampton Casuals tonight, weather permitting, and Paddock is fearful the end-of-season schedule could hit his side’s title hopes.

“We are desperate to get the game played because of the backlog we face,” said Paddock, whose side are nine points behind leaders Malvern but have seven games in hand.

“We have requested that if the game is off tonight that it could be rescheduled for tomorrow.

“The league have added an extra week on to the season to May 5 but we are going to struggle to get the games in. I know we are fully booked now for Saturdays and Tuesdays for the rest of the season.

“I’m disappointed that the league don’t play more midweek fixtures earlier in the season. I think that is something that needs looking at. Get you midweek games in and then if you have a few Saturdays free later on you can play cup games.

“If you look at our fixtures at the beginning of the season, it’s very rare we played in midweek.

The weather was fine and our pitch was fine. It just needs somebody to put a bit of authority on and say you have to play these games now.”

Paddock has bolstered his squad to help cope with the mounting fixture list. Jamal Fuller has returned to the club from Black Country Rangers having left Sporting in the summer.

Another Sporting old-boy, Ray Facey, has joined from Casuals while striker Nehemia Zazi arrives from Dudley Sports.

Tonight’s other games see Dudley Town travel to Bridgnorth, Cradley head for Bewdley and Tividale host Black Country Rangers.