Athletic have been linked with the 21-year-old for several weeks, and now Gretna coach Andy Smith has admitted: “Greg has been training with other clubs — Crewe and Oldham are two from England.”
Even though his side are rock-bottom of the table, Fleming has had an outstanding campaign in the Scottish Premier League.
He is being tracked by a number of scouts and will definitely be on the move after Gretna’s season reaches an end tomorrow night.
All of their players — including ex-Latics men Paul Murray and Danny Hall — are set to become free agents as the club is on the brink of liquidation.
Athletic are looking for a new ’keeper and Fleming, whom Gretna picked up from Livingston as a teenager, figures high on their list of possible signings.
There will already be two professional stoppers at Boundary Park next term as Mark Crossley has signed a one-year deal and youngster Josh Bell is graduating from the youth ranks.
Crossley, however, will be 39 at the start of next season and, as Athletic’s goalkeeping coach, he is involved in the search for his own successor.
Meanwhile, it is hoped the Ernie Cooksey Treatment Fund will be boosted by up to £10,000 after yesterday’s events at Boundary Park.
A benefit match for Cooksey, who has an advanced form of cancer which is notoriously hard to treat, was attended by around 1,500 people.
Organisers were pleased with the show of support, which followed a series of other fund-raisers for the 27-year-old — in total, events organised by Latics fans have been worth approximately £25,000.
Ernie, whose wife is expecting their first child, needs vital treatment which is not available on the NHS. Donations can be made at www.erniecooksey.com
