Wanderers took to the air when they were stranded in London after Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Charlton.

Colin Todd and the majority of his players and staff flew home on the evening shuttle from Gatwick to Manchester after their team coach broke down at The Valley.

Four others were ferried home by radio journalists.

It was a miserable end to an unhappy afternoon which saw two players - Andy Todd and Mike Whitlow - sent off.

Players had to hang around the South-east London club for more than an hour waiting for the emergency travel arrangements to be made.

They were then transported to the airport by helpful Charlton officials, who also made arrangements to have their dirty kit washed in time for tomorrow's Worthington Cup tie at Gillingham.

Wanderers boss Colin Todd expressed his gratitude to Addicks boss Alan Curbishley, who has also laid on practice facilities at his club's training ground tomorrow.

But Wanderers have vehemently denied claims that the manager and his players were left in the lurch by three directors.

A newspaper report today alleges that Todd was angry that it was left to him and players' agent Richard Cody to make the emergency arrangements.

"As a manager I have a duty to get my players and staff home," he explained.

"I spoke privately with Richard Cody and we went about it all in the correct manner. As a manager I handled it in the manner I saw fit and it was not a case of directors not doing something they should have done.

"The bottom line is that when you are not winning games, there is all sort of dirt that gets thrown around. This is just another chapter in the saga. I've never made any noises about being unhappy with my directors. I just handled the situation myself."

Wanderers chief executive Des McBain described the report as "absolute nonsense".

"All we have been concerned about is why the coach company, Eavesway, could not find an alternative coach to bring the team back," he said.

"They eventually found one at about 7.15 but by then the players were on their way to Gatwick.

"They have apologised and have accepted responsibility for the problem. They will take the players down to Gillingham today in a replacement coach but assure us that our own coach will be ready to pick up the team tomorrow and bring them home from the game."

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