DAVID CUFFLEY City boss Glenn Roeder found it hard to conceal his anger today at the continuing delay over the appointment of Hartlepool United youth team coach Paul Stephenson to his management team at Carrow Road.

DAVID CUFFLEY

City boss Glenn Roeder found it hard to conceal his anger today at the continuing delay over the appointment of Hartlepool United youth team coach Paul Stephenson to his management team at Carrow Road.

Roeder's hopes of completing his backroom staff in time for tomorrow's return to action against Coventry City have been thwarted.

He wants Stephenson as his third man, but it is believed Hartlepool are holding up the move.

Roeder said: “We will be able to tell you who the coach is very shortly, officially, and when we do I'll have plenty to say about why it's been held up so long, about the person who's holding it up, because it's a flipping disgrace, and I'll name him.

“We should have been able to name this coach a week ago. It's ridiculous. He's done so well for the club he's at, they should actually be giving him a watch to go and saying thank you very much.”

A spokesman for the League One side refused to discuss Stephenson, but it is understood chairman Ken Hodcroft is refusing to sanction his departure until certain demands are met.

“I don't think it would be appropriate for anyone at our club to be saying anything to you,” said the spokesman.

Stephenson was given permission to talk to Norwich and, after discussing the position with Roeder and assistant manager Lee Clark last week, said he hoped the issue would be resolved “within days”.

Roeder confirmed today that there would be a late decision over on-loan defender Martin Taylor's fitness to face Coventry as his bids to shake off a groin injury.

“Martin Taylor seems OK but we'll double check on him. He's the one needs looking most closely at. He's trained this week but we have kept him wrapped up in cotton wool,” said Roeder.

Dion Dublin and Luke Chadwick are fit to return after hamstring injuries, while defender Gary Doherty and midfielder Mark Fotheringham are included in the squad after long absences.

With Matthew Gilks sidelined by ankle ligament damage for up to three months, Steve Arnold will be the goalkeeper on the substitutes' bench as City are unable to recall Joe Lewis because of the terms of his loan at Morecambe.

“I find that situation very strange - that we let Joe Lewis go window to window when you can't call him back when he is your number three. The risk that you're taking that your number one and number two goalkeepers are not going to get injured is quite unbelievable,” said Roeder.