COLIN Todd doesn't just talk about the 'squad system' - he uses it.

The Burnden boss, doing his best to keep all his senior players happy, takes every opportunity to hammer home the point that he regards his 'team' as 20-strong rather than just the 11 he picks for starters.

He certainly believes in keeping his substitutes involved.

Wanderers haven't gone a single game this season without using at least one and in five of the last six they have used all three.

And only once has there been a defensive emphasis on the bench. That was at Bristol in the Coca-Cola Cup where he named Gavin Ward, Gudni Bergsson and Andy Todd.

Scott Taylor and Todd have been the regulars, the young striker looking sharp just about every time he has played while the versatile Todd Jnr has been used most to add strength and stability in midfield.

Wanderers have had a substitute keeper in three games - at Port Vale and Bristol and in the home game against Norwich.

Todd explains: "I do that for a particular reason. At Bristol, for instance, I knew it might be a bit physical with Keith Branagan under quite a bit of pressure. Having Gavin on the bench was a precaution.

"Normally I would go with outfield players."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.