Johnson planning for potential change

Reporter: Matthew Chambers
Date published: 17 October 2014


ATHLETIC have plans in place if star performers depart in the January transfer window.

Ahead of tomorrow’s big game at Chesterfield, Lee Johnson admitted the club has fielded calls about his top players.

Last season, James Tarkowski left for Brentford in January and despite a verbal deal for him to return to Oldham on loan, the move didn’t happen.

That left Johnson in a dilemma — a situation he stresses will not be repeated early next year, should decisions be made to sell players.

“There are already people asking for information about certain players,” Johnson said. “We are in a position to replace players with others we believe are of the same quality. Last year that wasn’t the case. The Tarkowski incident killed us.”

Outstanding midfield man Carl Winchester has a contract which only runs to next summer, but as he is only 21, Athletic would be entitled to compensation if he decided to leave.

But there are likely to be plenty of interested parties in defender James Wilson (26), who has been in rich form at centre-back. His deal runs out with the season.

For now Athletic are fully focused on maintaining a charge towards the upper reaches of the league.

Top scorer Jonathan Forte is having his persistent knee issue carefully managed — “he will be ready to start, if need be”, Johnson said — and Jabo Ibehre is in line to make his full debut up front.

At the other end of the pitch, the manager is mindful of the threat of Chesterfield’s prolific top scorer Eoin Doyle, as he predicts an open feast of attack-minded football.