THIS season has been a period of major unrest at Cheltenham Town as manager Martin Allen finally left the club by mutual consent earlier this month.

by MIKE SIMMONDS

THIS season has been a period of major unrest at Cheltenham Town as manager Martin Allen finally left the club by mutual consent earlier this month.

The former Brentford and MK Dons boss had been placed on gardening leave in October after allegations he racially abused a nightclub bouncer.

Now formally cleared of the incident, Allen 44, has left Whaddon Road without a "stain on his record", according to LMA chief executive Richard Bevan.

Since his departure, Kidderminster Harriers boss Mark Yates has taken over at the club, after over 60 applicants put their name forward for the job.

A 5-1 thumping of Barnet on November 24 has proved to be the Robins only league win in 15 matches.

Leading the line is Barry Hayles who, despite being 37 years of age, still knows where the back of the net is, with a tally of five this campaign.

The frontman, who made his name at Bristol Rovers, and played in the Premier League for Fulham, has been signed for transfer fees totalling over �2million during his career and has netted 120 goals in more than 400 games.

Veteran forward Julian Alsop is also still going at the age of 36, but has proved less successful, with just two goals under his belt.

Former Stevenage striker Justin Richards and Fulham attacker Elvis Hammond could be threats too, with 11 goals between them this season.

WE'VE MET BEFORE

Daggers and Cheltenham have met twice in their history, once this season when a late goal from Michael Towsend cancelled out Paul Benson's opener.

Their only other previous meeting was in the Football League Trophy back in September 2004, when the Robins were thumping 5-1 winners.

Chris Moore scored to make it 2-1, but further goals from Grant McCann, John Finnegan and Damian Spencer saw Cheltenham to victory.

Tony Roberts kept goal on that day, while Anwar Uddin was in the team too.