Matlock go into the new UniBond League season on Saturday with winger Jamie Jackson back in their ranks, but having lost striker Nathan Benger.
The surprises greeted Town fans attending the Gladiators pre season friendly at Carlton Town last weekend. Jackson came off the bench to net the winner midway through the second half. Benger, meanwhile, is expected to join First Division South promotion hopefuls Glapwell.
Atkins spent last Thursday's training session speaking with both Jackson and Benger revealing that the former Chesterfield wide man had had a change of heart, while Benger believed he needed a fresh challenge.
"Jamie's had a change of heart after firstly wanting to leave to play for a higher placed club. He's been up at York but they've not offered him anything so we had a good chat and decided that he'd come back to us." said Atkins who at the same time warned that Jackson would have to work hard to gain a place in the team.
"Everyone's got to work hard but Jamie's got to show the necessary desire and attitude to earn his place" Atkin vowed. "Jamie's been back here for just a week, the other lads have been working hard for six weeks, but on the plus side we all know what he can do and if he can get his attitude right and play at full throttle, he'll definitely be an asset to the team."
If Jackson returning to the fold was a major surprise, Benger's decision to leave Matlock was equally so, and it leaves Matlock a tad short of cover in the striking department. His second spell with the Gladiators ended following some promising performances in pre season which saw him score twice against both Chesterfield and Derby County. Atkins says he didn't want to lose Benger.
"Nathan came to me last Thursday and told me he wanted a fresh start as he thought he'd gone stale. I tried to persuade him to stay as he was in line to start the season but he was adamant he wanted to go and get a fresh start. The seven days notice of approach has come in from Glapwell who have offered two of our players more than we can during the summer. He wasn't on the greatest of money with us. I increased it by 50% but he still wants to go. I've waived the seven days from Glapwell. I had high hopes for Nathan and don't think any less of him. If it was right for us, I'd take him again."
Benger' departure leaves Matlock with just Dene Cropper and Ross Hannah as central strikers although Jackson can be effective down the middle s proved by his quickfire brace in the 2-2 draw with Worksop last season. Jason Hardy, who netted twice in the pre season friendly win a Teversal is taking a break from football.
"It's frustrating" admitted Atkins. "Now we're just less than a week away from the start of the season. I was happy with the three strikers we had, ideally we want four but having put an offer to Danny Davidson which in all honesty I knew we'd be lucky if he accepted it (Davidson joined Boston United last week),we're now down to two. I've made enquiries with Football League clubs for loan players and had a positive response but given the budget, I won't bring anyone in just for the sake of it. We'll start with what we've got and add to our strikers if we need to."
One of Matlock's major signings, centre half and new player / assistant manager Mark Haran, came through Tuesday night's 2-0 victory at Shepshed Dynamo but hopes that he will line up next to James Lukic at Guiseley appear to be receeding as the former Town skipper struggle to shake off a bout of tendonitis in his knee.
"I reckon my chances of being fit for the weekend are no more than 50-50" reflected Lukic. "I'm pig sick about it for all I want to do is start playing for Matlock again. But there's no point in coming back too quickly and be out for a longer period as I played for the first half at Glapwell and didn't do myself any good."
Lukic might be ready for Tuesday's visit of highly fancied King's Lynn, relegated from Blue Square North due to ground issues. Atkins shares Lukic's frustration.
"It would be great to have Mark and James together at the heart of the defence but there's nothing we can do about it at the moment. James is still struggling though it's getting better. Mark was outstanding on Tuesday. Ryan Laight's been in there for the last two matches and has been really strong. If James doesn't make it I'd have no problem putting in Ryan or Adam Yates alongside Mark."
Two consecutive clean sheets have lifted Atkins' and the fans spirits after conceding some soft goals in below par displays at Glapwell and Curzon Ashton in their two previous outings.
"Two clean sheets is very pleasing and keeping as many clean sheets as possible has got to be our objective" Atkins continued. "Now we're getting our squad back together we're playing with more tempo and more desire, qualitities we'll most definitely need during the season. And I'm very happy for Dene Cropper with his two goals at Shepshed. He was away on holiday and then collected an injury but in the last two matches he's about back to full fitness. He's worked extremely hard and his reward is the two goals which should do him no end of good going into the season on Saturday."
The only other injury doubt ahead of the curtain raiser is Scott Brough, but Atkins expects the full back to be fit. He says he has learned a lot about his squad during the past six weeks.
"Scott took a knock on Saturday but I reckon he's 70-30 for Guiseley. Everyone now has had the chance to show me what they can do and I've learned a lot more about them in pre season than I did from November to May last season--some good, some not so good."
Matlock could possibly have not asked for a tougher start. As well as winning the UniBond Challenge Cup,Guiseley finished third last season, being beaten by Nantwich Town in the play off semi final. The Yorkshire club have made a number of significant summer signings and again are expected to be in the mix at the top, but Matlock drew both games last term, 1-1 at Nethermoor and 2-2 at home, all of Town's goals coming from Cropper.
King's Lynn are making their first league visit to Matlock for over twenty five years although they did win an FA Cup clash at the Lane in September 2000. Newly appointed boss Carl Heggs has also been busy on the transfer front as they seek an immediate return to the Blue Square League.
Atkins acknowledged that his side face a difficult start but is confident that his squad can rise to the challenge.
"They're two tough games, it goes without saying, but nothing phases us at the moment. I've seen Guiseley play and will have King's Lynn watched on Saturday. Guiseley are a very good side who'll be right up there and have added to their squad. But if we can go there and show the right desire then we can get something. King's Lynn have brought in some good players, they're favourites and you can see why. It'll be a really tough game but again it's about what we do and showing hunger and desire. We know it'll be a tough season as the league is a really tough one. The support of the fans is vital and lifts the players. We need 100% performances and if we get them then it will be a good season. Everyone, fans included, must stick together."
