Richo returns

Last updated : 16 November 2004 By Rob Davies
Richardson has been out of action since mid-September after having a surgery on a troublesome knee problem. However, in the two months since then a lot has changed for the veteran defender.

He's back!
Ofcourse, he has since taken over the managerial seat- vacated by Gary Mills- and it appears more and more likely that, alongside John Gaunt, he may well keep the role, at least until the end of the season.

However, the big test for the 35-year-old remains how he will combine the role of manager with that of being a player, and that test began today.

Richardson's Notts side was largely made up of trialists and fringe players, while Crewe fielded a number of first-team players. The County boss himself had Notts' best chances, twice coming close to hitting the target.

The tough-tackling defender now hopes he'll be able to return to the first-team squad for Saturday's trip to Bury, admitting he may even have to return to the first Xl should injury doubt Mike Whitlow be unable to play.

"Hopefully I'll be OK to go on the bench," he told the NEP. "But I might even have to play if Mike Whitlow doesn't make it."