IAN Muir has faced a real baptism of fire since taking over as Stratford manager in the temporary absence of Lennie Derby, writes Mervyn Collins.

After having to pull a trio of players out of a training session at Alveston last week, the former Tranmere hit man found himself with just 11 fit senior players at Oldbury last Saturday.

Arrangements had been made for a couple of youth team players to join the squad and the pair were named as substitutes alongside the injured Paul John.

The latter's injury, Matt Collinson's skiing trip, the departure of Justin Clarke and the untimely loss of Darren Dickson and Marcus Hamill has left Muir with the bare bones of a squad already denied the services of Derby's fellow Australian trippers Boyd Young, Steve Fergusson, Kevin Elvin and Craig Martin.

Muir managed to recruit Gez Carr from Bedworth for last weekend's match but the stand-in manager would appear to have no answer to the player shortage ahead of Saturday's home Midland Alliance clash with Boldmere and Tuesday's visit to Sandwell.

Stapenhill visit Masons Road the following Saturday (February 10), while Derby and his quartet should be ready to entertain Oadby Town three days later.

It's testimony to the efforts of the players on duty last weekend that Town managed to take a point although a maximum haul from the next three games is imperative if runaway leaders Barwell are to be caught.

Forty players are registered for Alliance action and for Town to struggle to get 11 players on the pitch is nothing short of a disgrace.

To add to Muir's problems, Peter McBean's sending off made the struggle even harder on an afternoon when the referee also appeared to want to twist the knife into poor Muir.

The official waited five minutes before producing a red card after the striker's challenge on a player who, after lengthy treatment, was able to continue.

A couple of decisions also went against Town when, on another day and with a different referee, Oldbury could have been reduced to nine men.

Muir remains unbeaten after two games in charge, though. The reward for the 5-1 demolition of Holwell Sports last week is a trip to Handrahan Timbers on February 27 in the third round of the Rameses Midland Invitation Cup.

On a sorry note, former Stratford committee man Bernard Stallard died recently.

He was a former vice-president of the Midland Combination before becoming influential in the establishment of the Midland Alliance.