Marginson: We didn’t want Rooney anyway!

 Source: North West Evening Mail

 KARL Marginson was never going to attempt to lure Wayne Rooney to FC United of Manchester – but he still has plenty of striking artillery to fire at Barrow AFC in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round tomorrow (3pm kick-off).

ROO-TURN: Wayne Rooney has agreed a five-year deal at Old Trafford, before which Karl Marginson (left) joked FC United couldn’t afford his hairdressing bills!

The FC United boss was this week asked tongue-in-cheek if the Red Rebels – formed in 2005 as a protest in the wake of the Glazers’ takeover at Old Trafford – would make an audacious bid to land the then-want-away former Everton star.

But Marginson told the Daily Telegraph: “We couldn’t pay his hairdressing bills. And he doesn’t even have much hair!”

As it turns out, Rooney yesterday performed a dramatic U-turn and agreed a new five-year deal with the Red Devils.

Instead of Rooney, FC United have strikers Glynn Hurst – a 34-year-old former Bury and Chesterfield man who was linked with Barrow last season – plus 12-goal top-scorer Mike Norton, and Ben Deegan to pick from.

Marginson said: “We’re strong on the wings and up front, whichever way we go.

“We have experience in the shape of Glynn Hurst, Michael Norton has never scored less than 30 goals a season and Ben Deegan got a hat-trick in our last game.

“Going forward we look pretty strong, so it’s about keeping our shape when we don’t have the ball and making ourselves difficult to play against.”

FC United currently sit 16th in the Evo-Stick League Premier Division – 39 places below Barrow in the football pyramid. They have, however, won their last three matches, averaging almost five goals a game.

Former Bluebirds midfielder Marginson said: “Our form has picked up over the last few weeks, confidence is high and the lads are all buzzing.

“I do think Barrow are probably going to have to have an off day and us play to our highest standard.

“The standards Barrow have to play to, to compete in what is a very, very strong league will mean they’ll find it a bit easier against us. But, hey, we’re not bad and we certainly won’t be any pushovers.”

FC United are again expected to be without captain David Chadwick and the influential Steve Torpey, but have no further injury concerns.

And while this is Barrow’s first game in this season’s FA Cup, the Red Rebels have already had to negotiate three hurdles in the shape of Radcliffe Borough (3-0), Gainsborough Trinity (2-1) and Norton And Stockton Ancients (5-2) to get this far.

Marginson said: “I’m going to enjoy it, no matter what the result. It will be great to see some old friends from Barrow and I hope everyone has a good day. At the end of the day, we are the underdogs and have nothing to lose.”

FC United have never reached the competition’s first round proper. Last season they were knocked out in the final qualifying round by Northwich Victoria.

To avoid a similar fate tomorrow, Marginson knows his side must keep quiet Barrow’s 10-goal top scorer Jason Walker.

“Jason is a lad who knows where the back of the net is,” said the 39-year-old FC United boss.

“Goalscorers are a rare breed, but he’s certainly one of them. We know he will be a threat.”

Reacting to Rooney’s sensational u-turn, Barrow and Furness Manchester United Supporters’ Club chairman Mal Lawson said: “I didn’t want us to lose him, so it’s good news. He was probably right about what he said about the ambition of the Glazers but he will still have some questions to answer in the dressing room.

“I don’t think Coleen wanted to move anyway!”

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