Advertisement
Latics’ plea to stay-away fans
Reporter: KEITH McHUGH
Date online: 28 January 2010
ATHLETIC have called on stay-away fans to return to Boundary Park and get behind the team.
The last two home games, against Tranmere and Millwall, have attracted gates of only 3,688 and 3,656.
Boundary Park chief executive Alan Hardy admitted: “We realise the team is not playing good football.
“I can’t criticise the fans for not enjoying it and we have to find a remedy.
“But, while understanding their frustration, we need the fans’ support.
“The more support we have, the more it will help the club’s financial situation.”
Athletic will be hoping fans turn out for Saturday’s vital home game against Brentford, but one player unlikely to be in the squad is defender Hasney Aljofree, who had been hoping to resurrect his career by rejoining the club following a long-term knee injury.
The 31-year-old centre-half, whose contract for Swindon Town runs out at the end of this season, joined Athletic on loan in 2007, playing five first-team matches under then-manager John Sheridan.
Aljofree helped Athletic reserves to a 0-0 draw at Middlesbrough last night in a game which also featured two young trialist forwards, one of whom hit a post with a first-half shot.
However, Athletic’s priority remains the signing of a striker.
While Doncaster’s Paul Heffernan is their main target, hopes to sign him before Monday’s deadline could be scuppered by the current casualty list at the Keepmoat Stadium.
Should Heffernan not join Athletic in the next few days, he could return to the club on loan next month as players can be released by clubs a week after the transfer deadline has passed.
Athletic boss Dave Penney has other irons in the fire on the striker front and was at a match last night to make a check on a player.
Comments
when is the board going to get it! Latics are in a mess, promises of a stadium to be proud of at our spiritual home BOUNDRY PARK was great fans helped to get the development passed, all was good stand knocked down great progress.
Then the rug has been pulled from under everyones feet, development is on hold, ok times are bad we thought. Then the big one move this club from its spiritual home to Manchester, followed by a managerial mistake, how much have we fans got to take.
45years a fan
We need goals and we're looking at signing a player who is primarily a left back.
Strikers mean goals. Forget Heffernan. Look further than the end of your nose Penney.
Tell you what Mr Hardy,make it free to get in on Saturday,fill the ground and if the fans like what they see they will pay to watch the next home game.Because at the moment some season ticket holders cant turn up to watch garbage on the pitch and they have already stumped up the cash,and who can blame them,you show an act of faith and just maybe the fans will.
There is also an article written by the chairman of Peterborough United on their website that everyone should read especially the board and all the players and management.
Lets hope the match he was at last night was in Manchester, and he was checking on Rooney's availabilty !!!
Seriously though, Alan Hardy has answered his own questions, he knows why people are staying away, we (as fans) know why as well, problem is, you've dithered too long, and now there is no point in bringing in a new man with the transfer window closing, just got to start to pray, cos the way we're playing there's not much hope left.
Sorry, Latics, but the ONLY way to get the fans back is to start winning games, especially at home. Couple that with a REASONABLE price of admission, not the current rip-off cost and the fans may, just may, start coming back.
Until then, expect no change.
Usual and yet more nonsense, first of all Trust Director singing the praises of the TTA, now the CEO/Director asking the fans to come back and support the team ?... I think he should have added - I'll give everyone who does turn up £10.00 out of my own "well stretched" pockets..with what he's had out of the club during last 12 TERRIBLE SEASONS he can afford it.
Need to apply the basics of good business Mr Hardy, if the goods are crap - people go elsewhere, now I really do fear for the future
"We realise the team is not playing good football"
2 wins in 16 games, 10 of the games without scoring, least goals for in the division - you really think so Alan? We have a 2nd rate manager who has largely brought in 3rd rate players, none who are up to the job. With the exception of a few, none show the necessary pride or passion in the shirt and none seem up for a battle. Pity the team doesn't give as much as the few fans we have left. And yes, I will be there on Saturday and next year in D2
why not make it £10?
More people might come, at £20 latics need to understand people of oldham can not always afford this.
Penney out. End of
Obviously no one from Latics read the comments that go on this site, WE DONT WANT HEFFERNAN, and why should fans turn up and waste £20 on watching that dross, also in this article it states 2 young trialist strikers IT'S AN EXPIERINCED PROVEN GOALSCORER we need
I can understand the 'cry for help' from Alan Hardy to the stayaway supporters but he has to realise that their deep frustration with the ongoing situation is much more serious than a couple of games. The statistics for the season so far are nothing short of disastrous and unless Penney and his management team can bring in at least two players of substance then the folly of sub-standard signings and a lack of tactical nous ensures that Athletic are strong favourites for relegation.
"ATHLETIC have called on stay-away fans to return to Boundary Park and get behind the team"
Well Alan, perhaps if the players and the manager should alittle more, pride, passion and enthusiasm, and attually played a less negative style of football, them maybe - just maybe - the fans will return (but should it be Dave Penney making this statement!!!!)
I'm not sure what the new Marketing Manager is doing, but it certianly isn't promoting the team to the general public.
There's only so many times you can play the fear/sympathy card to the fans. Every fan has their limit (mine would be relegation this season) and its showing with the attendances. The average attendance so far this season for league games is 5086, 600 lower than last year, and well on course to drop lower than the lowest average of 4972 in 2000-2001, and I dread to think what the season ticket sales will be, regardless of the division we are in.
I see that Huddersfield have signed Liverpool forward Nathan Eccleston on loan today. Fast, direct young striker equally adept on both flanks and not on mega-bucks. Is Dave Penney aware that we have Premier League clubs on our doorstep with players in abundance at reserve levels. Perhaps the clubs owners should seek assistance from people in the know because so far we have zilch.....
Mr Hardy stop blaming fans if the players gave 100% we would be better off,we are heading for the 4th division.
I am a season ticket holder this is the worst team i can remember,you and the managers down there are not bringing any decent players in to stop the rot so latics down dale up what a shambles you lot are!!
City are offering tickets for £15 to people for the game against portsmouth & also bolton providing they come with a season ticket holder. latics want £20. theres your problem Mr Hardy, I could go and watch tevez, or I could go and watch kiegan parker. I dont care what anyone says, the whole club is a rip off. On saturday v millwall I heard a father say to his son "if you dont behave im bringing you here again next week". needless to say the kid was as good as gold for the rest of the game!
Dont worry fans weve been here before and got out of it remember eyres and carrs helping us out then there was killkenny and lee croft did the same, and this year we signed opps!! no one ohh dear start worrying!!
I'll take Heffernan.
Didn't do much against Exeter, apart from SCORE. Sparkling running and skill at Wycombe a cut above what we have now. Penalty miss aside
Anyone dealing in the retail trade has a product which they sell to their customers at the best prices, this in an effort to keep their customers and build up a decent business.
If you sell rotten fish in your fish shop - don't expect any return business, apply this to all retail businesses - THE END.
As Latics are both a Retail and Service business, the same principles apply, sadly it appears that for the last 15 - 20 years the policy at BP - has been "we know we're right" -is this THE END ?
Sign up Andy Murrays' backroom staff - they know how to motivate and what passion is.
If Penney was sacked i guarantee that fans would return out of curiosity to see what the new manager can do. But as another person said Penney has not been sacked and Oldham just don't seem to get it. I assume they don't care if they go down, but the fans do. Everyone is so fed up. All other clubs would have dumped the manager by now! I wish we would.
my season ticket has now got dust on it, i cant bring myself to go anymore to many times of feeling let down.
i cannot blame anybody wishing not to go £20 pound for that rubbish.
im taking my son to the bury rochdale game as a neutral on monday night £16 FOR BOTH OF US IN THE FAMILY STAND.
category A game 16 pound.
they have the right idea bums on seats and im sure it will be very entertaining.
hope we manage to stay in the league to play these local teams next season.
sad oldham fan for life
Latics’ plea to stay-away fans
stay away and spend your hard earn crust on something,interesting, motivational, enjoyable,because it not happening here.
the only way people will return is to get rid of the manager he has had too many chances,25yr supporter who won't return till he is gone .
Excuse the pun - not intended !... The Penny's dropped, see official OAFC website...He's just realised that if we don't have strikers we don't score goals, and if don't score goals we don't win matches or points !.....This is quite clearly showing and proving that Mr Penney whilst being a nice man - he is not a very experienced football Manager.
Or put more simply - he's perhaps useless at it ?...
Goodness me looks like i have 29 clones, all bleating the same thing i have all season, even mad4it mr corneys only fan. I have been saying this all season warned you, told you, but look at you all now lol, all singing the same song.
I still cannot stop chuckling at Mr gazels comment "we have a squad capable of the play offs" he must have been at Man City or Man U.
Mr Hardy please arrange the following words - Horse, Flogging, Dead, A
Just finshed reading Penny's article on BP web site Please tell me this man isn't being serious as to suggest we don't know whats up and that you need to score goals to win games. So why go round scrapping the bottom of the barrell looking for over the hill strikers and the like when you have just got rid of Chris O'Grady a proven striker this season he's been on fire at Rochdale an hatrick last time out. OK he couldn't hit a barn door last season for us.but you can't argue about is form now
Penney sez on the website that he's not worried about our league position. Well the fans are. What sort of guy is he, he needs to go and then the fans will come back. Looking for strikers, it's all a big joke. 5 wins out of 26 says it all really . LEAVE now before it's too late for our club.
The situation re professional/semi professional sport in Oldham seems to be presently DIRE, the Roughyeds are "between homes" with days to go before season starts having allegedly been kicked out by Penney, (fat lot of good that did) and the once great Latics,(i saw em when they were invincible) are being stealthily hoodwinked out of Boundary Park themselves which to be honest couldnt be better located than where it is IMHO...are the fans,(of both codes) being listened to? EXACTLY!!!
The bulk of fans attending BP at the moment are season ticket holders and if they could get a refund most would. I do not no anyone who will be renewing next season if Penney stays.My husband and me will not be going. PS Any chance of a refund Mr Hardy.
'to those who refuse not to support the latics at this critical point in the season, without us fans there is no OAFC!'
What will it take for the heirachy at the clubs to listen? I'm a season ticket holder and amongst others who sit close by certainly have no intention of renewing whilst the current incompetent management team are in charge? Its worse than the days of Brian Talbot but it appears that they are happy for the club to go down, how can they have confidence in a man who has only just realised he needs a striker?? Owners, take action and NOW!!!!
A par for the course misleading headline has put the cat amongst the pigeons. Hardy did not make a plea to stay away fans. He was quoted as a saying “we realise the team is not playing good football. “I can’t criticise the fans for not enjoying it and we have to find a remedy. “But, while understanding their frustration, we need the fans’ support.
“The more support we have, the more it will help the club’s financial situation.”
Hardy is stating fact to questions asked, not making a plea. He said not a word on his own web site. The same statements would apply if your pie shop was going down the drain. So we can rest easy that they know exactly what is going on and how we feel. Can they pull us out of the dive? Probably not! Not with the present players and regime on the football side. After 25 matches the writing is on the wall. 13h games 3w 11goals. That’s not worth £10 to a casual punter let alone £20.
Scraping survival in L1 would be a result. Unless you have got the money or know someone who has, don’t bang on about getting rid of the owners. They are our ONLY OPTION just now and for the moment are keeping our head financially above water. Who knows for how long though? Much bigger fish than us have hit the buffers with a reckless inability to control costs. Maybe those that are voting with their feet are doing the right thing. They may force OUR board to become reckless!
after 40 yrs as a season ticket holder,it breaks my heart to even go to the matches.i see a crumbling 3 sided ground which is even colder now,a team gregan,taylor aside who are cast offs from other struggling teams and show no passion or ability.is sacking d p the answer? i dont know but someone better know or we will be swopping places with rochdale
£20 Entrance fee, a manager with no ideas and little or no ability to inspire his team,garbage players bought from the dregs of the football basement. unable to hit a barn door and to stop a pig in an alley!!!! LETS GET DOWN TO LATICS AND WASTE OUR TIME OUR MONEY AND OUR WILL TO LIVE...get lost Alan if you can see the problem then simple....SORT IT OUT!!!! Penney out!!!!!!!!
Lots of very telling comments made about OAFCs position. I, season ticket holder, have to travel 200mile round trip, I need to see, on the pitch, why I continue to do so?
No renewal next season if Penney is still i/c, and no trips to local div2 sides to watch OAFC play, it is the worst season I can remember.
Come on you lot. Things ain't as bad as you think. Half a season to go, and plenty of chances to climb the table. Latics will easily stay up. Next season it will be trips to Gigg Lane and Spotland when our neighbours land in League One. Having been to Spotland this season, I can honestly say they are the best side I've seen this season, and that includes League 1 sides. O'Grady is a different player. Good luck to the lad. He deserves it.
OLDHAM SCOTLAND - If you read my post, it doesn't criticise the TTA.
It simply says that we have a team, who do not show and pride, passion or commitment to the fans who pay to watch them, and this can only be one persons fault the Manager.
As far being Mr Corney, I can take or leave him, but at least he's better than other option - administration
Ask yourself were we'd be if we went into administration - division 4 or WORSE
Mad4it, don't talk drivel commitment comes from the top downwards, in otherwords real commitment from the directors Although Penny is getting all the stick for lack of real support from the directors.....fact we have had a decimated team through injuries and directors constantly after a quick buck by selling players we can ill afford to lose, and you are trying to tell me they are doing a good job?. each player that has gone has never been replaced,
I'm not sure what the new Marketing Manager is doing, but it certianly isn't promoting the team to the general public.
By MAD4IT @ 28/01/2010 14:12:13
The marketing manager is part of the board is he not so u are critisizing them.
Why should anyone want to watch a club that has no ambition.
To build a smaller staduium which cant be expanded and getting a manager that will keep us in the bottom divisions (or take us to the bottom division) doesnt make me want to give the club £20 and waste 90min of my life watching a team of mainly ex huddersfiled players run around aimlessly like headless chickens.
Oldham Scotland - "Mad4it, don't talk drivel" now that is a case of the pot calling the kettle black.
OK so you don't like the board of directors, but if I've asked you once I've asked you a 100, if the TTA were to leave who would take over and fund the club to you requirements... come on OS enlighten me to which multi millionaire / billionaire is waiting in the wings.
As you know Mr Hardy, financial support was offered by John Worrall to join the board but this was declined. People will not pay good money to watch the rubbish being produced by an unmotivated team. address the management and crowds will return.
Have Your Say
Unfortunately Mr Hardy the only remedy to this situation is to stop trawling the bargain basement for players. I understand that the directors have done a lot for this club, and it is appreciated. One thing is for sure though if the products in their business were as bad as the product they put out on the pitch then they would never have been in the position to buy Oldham Athletic in the first place.
By DT @ 28/01/2010 12:14:15