Friendship put aside Andy Sinton faces ex-Spurs pal
AFC?Telford take on table-topping Newport County tonight for only the second time in their history – but the opposing managers are far more familiar to each other.
Bucks boss Andy Sinton and Exiles manager Justin Edinburgh were team-mates at Tottenham Hotspur for three years. They were part of the squad that lifted the League Cup in 1999, beating Leicester City 1-0 at Wembley.
It proved to be a match tinged with disappointment for Edinburgh, who was controversially sent off during the game.
And his former team-mate is aiming to hand him more disappointment tonight.
Sinton, who had a three-year spell at White Hart Lane from 1996-1999, said he was pleased to see Edinburgh enjoy his recent success, having guided Newport to the top of the table after 10 games.
And he plans to catch up with the ex-defender, who spent 10 years at Spurs between 1990 and 2000, after the final whistle. But there will be no time for pleasantries beforehand as both sides battle it out for a valuable three points.
"There will be no quarter given, no quarter asked but we'll have a drink afterwards," said Sinton.
"I'm delighted for Justin. He's a good lad, a good manager, he's got a good side but that goes out of the window.
"I probably won't be in touch with him before the game. I'll see him during the game. We will get together afterwards and chew the fat but before games there's a job to be done."
Toppling Edinburgh's high-flying side will be the biggest test so far for Sinton's current team.
The Welsh outfit have won seven and drawn one of their opening 10 games, scoring 20 goals. They also have the league's top scorer in Aaron O'Connor, who has already amassed eight goals, including his side's opener in their 2-1 win over Southport at the weekend.
But it should also be noted that their two defeats have come on their travels at Dartford and Wrexham.
And having fielded an attacking side against pre-season promotion tips Mansfield on Saturday, Sinton is promising more of the same tonight.
"They have had a fantastic start with some money behind them but we will get on the front foot and try to win the game as we've done every game this season," he said.
Having finished just six points above the drop zone last season, and a single point ahead of Telford, the Exiles brought in a raft of new players during the summer.
Edinburgh has said his current squad is 'a million miles' in front of where it was last year.
"This squad is capable and more adapt to the Conference and I think that's showing in the results and the performances we're giving right now," he said.
"We've had a couple of free midweeks of late and we've let the players take the deserved rest.
"But we know games are going to come thick and fast again now and we're very much prepared for that. We know if you're not prepared you can come unstuck."
