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Stam to leave in Latics purge
Reporter: Latics latest by TONY BUGBY
Date online: 15/05/2009
STEFAN STAM has become the eighth player to be released by Athletic, who will parade a new-look team next season.
The Dutch defender’s agent was informed yesterday by manager Dave Penney that he is not to be offered a new deal.
The 29-year-old Stam, who is back home in Holland, is, however, set to return to England, having already receiving several offers.
Stam made 102 appearances for Athletic and chief Athletic Alan Hardy paid tribute to the player.
“The decision to release Stefan was for footballing reasons and, in the four years he has been with us, he has been a model professional,” explained Mr Hardy.
Stam joins Josh Bell, Mark Crossley, Sean Gregan, Lee Hughes, Jean-Paul Kalala, Andy Liddell and Kevin Maher who have also been released.
Athletic are confident Mark Allott will accept the offer of a new one-year contract.
The 31-year-old midfield player has been informed by Penney he must give a decision by today and Allott was due to meet club officials to give his answer.
Athletic are still in discussions with Martin Gray and Andy Collett, who are expected to join Penney’s management team.
Gray is earmarked to become Penney’s No 2 and Collett the goalkeeping coach.
“We are still in discussions and working on the fine details. I would think it will be concluded next week,” added Mr Hardy.
Athletic were privately pleased after Leeds United were last night beaten by Millwall in the Coca-Cola League One play-offs.
They will be guaranteed one extra bumper gate as Leeds attracted the second largest home crowd of the campaign just ended. The attendance was 7,835, even though the match was televised live.
Athletic’s offices will be open tomorrow between 9am and noon for anybody wanting to purchase season tickets. Fans have until May 28 to take advantage of discounts.
Have Your Say
This is getting out of hand now, when are the cuts going to stop? and if we are skint where is the money going to come from to re-inforce the squad?.
This board of directors are becomming a joke, nothing they have promised has come from them, perhaps they can consult with Mr Hamilton of Oldham Rugby he tried his hardest, and found he was out of his depth financially.
But he gave it his all, scouring everywhere for extra income all these three clowns have done is moan about attendences and dither when real action was needed, look at the club now this is the lowest i have seen it in all my 40 years as a fan.
I hope Mr Penny has a god to help him, as he's going to need a miracle or two next season
Instead of giving back £70, could the club consider giving Prozac to some 'fans'. Surely we have the most miserable fans in Britain. Not a ball is kicked and the directors and NEW manager are being crucified! Accept we are a club with 4000 loyals and a 3 sided manky stadium. Scunthorpe are in the play-offs with the same, so give the club a break and wait until you see what Penney assembles!
What a couple of manic depressives rg and Oldham Scotland are. Not a player signed or a ball kicked, and they know it all. When did the board dither and what action should they have taken? Did it involve money that no one has got? Once again, who is the millionaire waiting to fulfil your dreams? Wouldn’t it be wise to wait and see who we sign to replace the aged, injury prone and average that we have got rid of? In 5months time you may well have a gripe. But I doubt it!!! What’s your plan?
Mikeymike lets get one thing straight, I have not ripped into DP, infact he has my utmost sympathy and my backing I have a feeling he will do well, "given the right backing". Joes parting comments on why he never signed a new deal said it all about finance for next season, hes going to get a pittance, even though hes had a mass clear out even freebies have signing on fees.
Where is the money going to come from? we need at least 6 players, and although we have some decent youngsters we will struggle big time next season if the squad is not re-inforced enough. Chesterfield managed to find financial backing!!, is chesterfield a bigger club than Oldham? and is their fan base any bigger than ours? NO! Its how you package the product.
And yes the board dithered at every crisis reacting to late more a kneejerk reaction, than a proaction I dont claim to be in the know, but i have been proven right 9 times out of 10 on everything i have said not bad for a manic depressive, and you dont need to be einstein either to second guess what they will do next. I hope they will do the right thing but that fanbase will soon decline if we have a bad start.
if you lot went to the 20 odd home games last season (except maybe scunthorpe, stockport and mk dons) you would understand the term 'depressed'.
I like the manager and I feel for the board - but they are well out of their depth here.we need some serious investment and another 3000 fans before we get anywhere. hence the negativity.there is realism with my pessimism
just found out via the website allott has rejected the contract DP offered.if a home grown lad like allott isnt happy to commit then what does it say for the likes of taylor and eardley? this club is going nowhere fast. so thats at least 9 maybe 10 new players next season.prepare for a relegation scrap.
By rg2403 @ 15/05/2009 12:59:48
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