Source: Team_Talk
Schmeichel keeps focus on cup
Sven-Goran Eriksson has left County and he was influential in Schmeichel joining the League Two club from Manchester City on a five-year deal in August, just weeks after the former England manager arrived at Meadow Lane as director of football.[LNB]But Eriksson resigned on Thursday following Ray Trew's acquisition of the club.[LNB]The ambition of former owners Munto Finance was also a major factor in Schmeichel's signing.[LNB]The Swiss-based Middle East consortium promised the level of investment to take County from the Football League's bottom tier to the Championship, and later the Premier League. But that dream is also over.[LNB]With the club saddled with debts of around £1.5million and due back in the High Court on February 24 to face a winding-up petition from HM Revenue and Customs for an unpaid tax bill, players' wages such as those of Schmeichel could now be unsustainable.[LNB]It remains to be seen whether County's promotion challenging squad will be stripped apart, but Schmeichel insists he is just thinking about Sunday's trip to Craven Cottage.[LNB]"We have a massive game and I think all our focus should be on that. I see my future as 'we have a game tomorrow', said the 23-year-old.[LNB]"If one of the new owners comes to me and says we have a problem, then I'll take it seriously. Until that happens I'm playing. I have a contract and I am going to honour that - that's the way it is for me.[LNB]"At the moment, we have a big game against Fulham and it's going to be a hell of a difficult game. Our minds should not be on other things.[LNB]"If we worried about everything that went on away from playing football then we'd go crazy."[LNB]Schmeichel, who admitted he sympathised with Eriksson after his ambitious plans for the club failed to come to fruition, believes it would be fitting if County could triumph at Craven Cottage and reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 1991.[LNB]"It would be nice to win it for him. But not just for him, for the players too, we work hard too and have a good relationship with each other and a good spirit and we want to win," said Schmeichel.[LNB]"It's going to be a great occasion, but it's going to be a difficult game. In the cup anything can happen and I have huge faith and belief in this team."[LNB]County will be at full strength for the tie. Caretaker boss Dave Kevan has named the same starting line-up for the last two league matches, so the likes of Ade Akinbiyi, Jamie Clapham, Graeme Lee, Matt Hamshaw and Luke Rodgers will hope to force their way into contention.[LNB][LNB] Fulham v Notts Co.. Click here to bet.
