FORMER Workington Reds favourite Matt Henney is rated 50-50 for Barrow’s opening Promotion Play-off game with AFC Telford on Wednesday night.

Henney is struggling with a hamstring problem and has had to retire in several recent games before the end, although he did score the all-important winner against Worcester on Saturday.

Tim Deasy strained his back when accidentally slipping before the Saturday night celebratory meal but is expected to play as too are skipper Paul Jones (leg) and striker Jason Walker (ankle).

AFC Telford United midfielder Gary Fitzpatrick is a major doubt for the Blue Square North play-off semi-final first leg at Holker Street with a foot injury. ...

Meanwhile club chairman Lee Carter says full-time football "is not on the radar" for AFC Telford United, even if they win the Blue Square North play-offs.

"If we go up, we won't do anything to put the future of this club in danger. You read every week about full-time clubs in the Conference who are in financial difficulties.

"We want to attract the best part-time players. Let's see where that takes us," he told the local radio station BBC Shropshire.

The wariness about over-extending the club stems from the financial collapse of the old Telford United in 2004.

The new club has made remarkable progress since then, with two promotions and now a possible third.

"We'd never go down that road again," Carter insisted.

"But we're confident we could give the management team a reasonable budget to at least stay up in the Blue Square Premier - and then we'd look to the longer term."

The second leg at Telford on Sunday afternoon will be all ticket for away fans only and Barrow have been given an initial allocation of 655 standing tickets.

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