A WOMAN in a man's world - that's the sentiment from Seasiders company secretary Carol Banks who has been with the club for five years.

Carol, a dedicated follower of football since her parents took her watch Wigan Athletic from the age of three months, is responsible for the smooth running of the club's day to day business when chairman Karl Oyston isn't at Bloomfield Road.

Dealing with a variety of issues, including players contracts, insurance, pension and, of course, all the wages, Carol says she gets on really well with all the players.

"It's a lot of hard work and it certainly keeps me busy, but I love it. I used to work as assistant secretary for Wigan Athletic, before moving to Bloomfield Road.

"And I've never had any problems at all with any of the players.

"But I do think this job is a lot harder for a woman. I'm a woman in a male environment and when I am on the phone some people don't like the fact I'm a woman with authority. "It does annoy me sometimes because I just think I wouldn't treat people like that.

"But we are a close knit team here at Bloomfield Road and every day is a different one. I never know what my day is going to be like when I walk through the doors.

"And the team's progress so far this season has been disappointing. But the game at Arsenal is going to be great and I'd like to thank the fans for their support - despite the game being on a Monday night - and we do have around 700 tickets on general sale now.

"Hopefully we can get a result there, that would be great. Both Nigel and the team are trying to get things back on track and everything myself and the back room staff can do to help we will."

Don't forget to write any questions you have about the club to us and we'll pass them on to Karl. The address is Citizen Newspaper, St Annes Buildings, Clifton Drive North, St Annes FY8 2NA.

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