ALTRINCHAM can expect a warm welcome when they travel to Grays Athletic on Saturday, although manager Graham Heathcote has warned there will be no sentiment of goodwill on the pitch.

The Robins have forged a strong relationship with the Essex club after they stood behind them in the appeal against their 18-point deduction last season - owner Micky Woodward even providing Alty with legal representation for their appeal hearing.

And despite the recent turmoil at the club, which has seen Woodward assume management duties, Heathcote is expecting a tough test at the Recreation Ground.

Speaking exclusively to SAM Sport, he said: "We will get a friendly reception at Grays and we owe their chairman a great debt of gratitude for what he did for us last season.

"But in football terms it's a difficult place to go, especially if we want to put our away problems behind us.

"There have been quite a few changes at the club in recent weeks and they've moved on a couple of very good players. But they have also brought in Justin Richards, last season's top scorer in this division, and they have a very good side.

"I'm just so desperate to get a win away from home, it's been very frustrating. But we still need to go there with a positive attitude and if we play like we did against York I would be very happy."

Despite claiming credible draws at Oxford, Aldershot and Cambridge, Alty are still without a win on the road this season - a record that has left them more precariously placed than their performances probably merit.

Although Heathcote is under no illusions about the source of his team's problems, finding a solution has been almost impossible.

He said: "We need to score more goals, it's as simple as that. We have tightened up a lot at the back but we have struggled up front.

"Colin Little's just come back from injury and it's up to other players to take on the goalscoring mantle, which hasn't happened so far.

"I've been looking for players to bring in before the loan window closes on Thursday but finding the right calibre of players has been difficult, especially on loan.

"Strikers who will score 15 goals in this league are very hard to come by and inevitably cost more than we can afford."