A FORMER UEFA data specialist who runs a flourishing Hale-based sports analysis business has placed his expertise at Altrincham's disposal in a major boost to the club's hopes of a swift and significant revival in the team's fortunes.

Rob Esteva, founder, owner and managing director of The Stats Zone, offered his services free of charge, just three days after attending the club's strategic review presentation as an interested onlooker.

The partnership begins with immediate effect and means, in essence, Alty will have constant access to an extensive network of scouting reports and information on teams and players who could become transfer targets and managers who could be shortlisted for any vacancy.

Explaining why he has aligned himself with Alty, despite coming from Leeds and spending six years at UEFA and three as a director of Brentford, the 37-year-old said: "I'm not going to try and hoodwink anyone into thinking Alty have always been my team, but they do feel like my team now.

"After finishing at UEFA and returning to the UK from Switzerland, I bought a house in Hale and now have a five-month-old daughter.

"This is home, I'm here for the long haul and, for me, Alty are the local team.

"There is plenty to be done, like improving the infrastructure to support the manager and players for the rebuilding job that is needed.

"Right now, plans have to be drawn up for next season. It has to be promotion, and the planning has to start now."

Alty continue their travels at Boston on Saturday, still wondering how they lost 1-0 at Telford after dominating throughout. Even Telford manager Rob Smith admitted: "How on earth we won that – we didn't deserve it.

"I just couldn't see where we were going to score from."

Alty boss Matt Doughty added: "That was a hard one to take after we put so much into it and played so well.

"Once again, the opposition keeper has got man of the match so we must be doing something right."