Linnets still in safe hands with Passant Loan spell for 18-year-old goalkeeper is extended
RUNCORN Linnets have extended the loan of goalkeeper Bayleigh Passant from Tranmere Rovers for another month.
Passant, 18, signed his first professional contract with Rovers during the summer before heading to Linnets in August.
He has since been an almost ever-present between the sticks at the Millbank and has become a popular figure among supporters.
Manager Michael Ellison confirmed to the Weekly News that a fresh agreement had been struck this month to extend his stay at Runcorn.
“It’s just been settled [the agreement with Rovers],” Ellison explained.
“It’s until the start of December, if I’m right. We do it on a monthly basis for Tranmere and us as well.
“He’s doing well. He’s young , learning, and he’s a great lad.
“It’s great for him, good for us and we’ve got him for another month and hopefully we get more good performances out of him and a few more clean sheets!”
Ellison also expressed his dissatisfaction at the manner in which Saturday’s trip to league-leaders Workington was postponed.
● Bayleigh Passant received the August player of the month award from Linnets chairman Mike Bignall
Workington announced the game was postponed on Saturday morning due to ‘an issue/damage to spectator accommodation.’
“We’ve not been told what the problem is or whether it’s been rectified,” Ellison added.
“We’re so disappointed and it sets a dangerous precedent. I don’t know what it was and the league didn’t seem to know.
“I’m really, really disappointed. We were looking to kick-on and were going there confident and had been working all week.
“If it rains you can take it, there’s nothing you can do about it. If games are getting called off just because other teams want it called off that’s when it leaves a bit of a bad taste in the mouth.
“But we have to do what the league wants and we move on to this Saturday!”
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PAUL McManus believes supporters are yet to see the best of Runcorn Town as their autumnal improvement continued with a 5-0 victory against Atherton Laburnum Rovers in the
Macron Cup first round on Saturday.
Kai Wallis, Marcus James, a Dave Forbes double and Craig Cairns helped Town see off Rovers, who compete in the NWCFL First Division North, 19 places below Town in the pyramid.
“I’m always banging on about the clean sheets because it’s an easy way to not lose a game of football by keeping them,” McManus explained after the victory.
“We had a good, horrible away performance last week [against Burscough] but on a poor pitch it has to be said, so clean sheets will always do me.”
Town have now lost just one of their last six matches after a difficult start to the campaign.
Initially tipped to challenge for the top three automatic promotion places after the signings of Joe Holt and Craig Cairns from City of Liverpool, McManus’ side currently languish in 12th ahead of this weekend’s visit of surprise package Longridge Town.
“We haven’t been able to string a number of games together with the same starting XI this season due to injuries and holidays,” the manager continued.
“We know our strongest side but we also still have plenty of injuries so still feel we haven’t seen the best of what we are capable of.
“Going into Saturday if we can gain another win it will be four wins and one draw in the last five which compared to our previous four [Town lost three and drew one of that period] is pleasing.
“We can only keep on trying to improve and gain the points we need to climb the table.”
Town will now face Northwich Victoria on 9 November in the second round of the Macron
Cup following victory over Atherton.