Advertisement
Latics head for fixture pile-up
Reporter: MATTHEW CHAMBERS
Date online: 03 February 2010
FRUSTRATED Athletic were left kicking their heels once again as their match at Stockport County was called off with just over two-and-a-half hours left to kick-off — the SIXTH time a fixture has fallen foul of the elements this season.
The problem this time was standing water on the Edgeley Park pitch following heavy rainfall and despite the best efforts of ground staff to clear the affected areas with sponge rollers, the surface was deemed to be unplayable after an early-evening inspection conducted by referee Jon Moss.
It is the second time in succession the fixture at County has hit the skids.
And it tags onto an unwanted sequence for Athletic which began with the frozen-off Boxing Day home game against Tranmere, followed by non-matches against Hartlepool (away), Leyton Orient (home), the original date at Stockport and Brentford (home).
The latest Stockport postponement means that Athletic boss Dave Penney is facing up to a major fixture pile-up.
The rest of this month alone contains six more games, starting with Tranmere Rovers away from home on Saturday.
There are Tuesday night trips in February to play-off contenders Swindon Town, in six days’ time, and second-placed Leeds United two weeks later.
And with both the Stockport away date and last Saturday’s postponed home fixture against Brentford still to be rescheduled, Athletic are set to be in action in midweek on no less than nine occasions out of a possible 13 before the end of the season.
ATHLETIC supporters can catch a glimpse of the future at Boundary Park tomorrow.
A fans’ consultation is being held in the sponsors’ suite at the ground between 3pm and 8pm concerning the proposed move to a new home in Failsworth.
There is no need to book and on show will be a site plan, a footprint of the stadium and visuals of the initial design.
A full presentation is set to follow at the end of this month, with details yet to be announced.
Comments
"ATHLETIC supporters can catch a glimpse of the future at Boundary Park tomorrow. "
There is no future at Boundary Park.
'there is no future at Boundary Park/Failsworth unless people on here start getting beind the team and turn up to support! without support there is no OAFC! Get real people stop thinking about 'the good old day's, we are an average LG1 side with 2/3 decent seasons beind us recently!'
I agree with mnnud1, I support Oldham Athletic, they are my club, if they went out of business I wouldn't support anyone else, so I turn up each week. I am obviously disappointed with this seasons results but every club has ups and downs and this poor run will end sooner or later. I would rather watch my team (win or lose) than have no team to watch at all! Get behind the club - if any more games are postponed it will need a massive effort from players, fans and management - so keep the faith!
Well said mnud1, I'm sick and tired of hearing the moaners on here. Until we move to Failsworth the club will have little or no investment on the pitch, the lack of conference facilities is killing this club. Yes, the 3 amigos ripped down a stand, but that was done with plans to redevelop just before the recession hit. This wasn't their fault. As for Penney, no manager can be judged on just half a season.
To those of you who are slagging off the so called moaners, I would have thought they wouldn't even come on here if they didn't care about the demise of their club. Do you think it is worth £20 a game to watch Latics at the moment, and do you think the investment in the team is worth people going watching them? everyone is entitled to their opinion!
If no manager can do anything in half a season ( see Tyrone's Power)then many clubs don't agree. Lots of managers last only weeks and I reckon Penny would have been out of the door only for the financial constraints at the club. It's been said before but he needs Tonto with him as he's always with 'The Loan Arranger'. Away!!!!!!!!!!!!
"the lack of conference facilities is killing this club" What!!!
How about, lack of success on the pitch, and, lack of support due to lack of success on the pitch.
Shouldn't have a go at the 'moaners' - there are more of them than you. Why should fans go and support people (players , management and board) who are ruining this club? Why should my money go towards Alan Hardy's salary? If the club had some respect for their fans, they might get a few more people turning up.
At the beginning of the season, we were faced with 46 unwanted fixtures.
Have Your Say
Unwanted fixture pile up? I blame Dave Penney
By mp @ 03/02/2010 12:56:15