New stand will deliver!

ATHLETIC’S new North stand

A DESIRE to hand the best facilities to Athletic fans is the driving force behind the changing ground conditions for next season.

The opening of the new North Stand for the 2015-16 season brings with it many new opportunities, as far as commercial director Mark Moisley is concerned. the new stand will make the ground four-sided for the first time in seven years.

Moisley has been talking to fans in the Zen Office Chaddy End over the plan to relocate them - something he admits was a difficult decision. Some of the most iconic imagery in the club’s history involves fans crammed into the Chaddy End.

But while acknowledging the importance of that heritage, Moisley argues the changes represent progress and a better deal for fans.

“Having the new stand means we have four sides for supporters — and we simply don’t need four sides for our own supporters, it’s as simple as that,” Moisley said.

“There have been so many occasions when fans have had to move out of the Rochdale Road Stand to accommodate away supporters, which isn’t ideal either. Having decided to use three stands rather than four for our fans, it came down to a choice of which three.

“The Rochdale Road Stand has the better facilities compared to the Chaddy End. We completely understand the emotional attachment but we also want our supporters to have the benefit of the best facilities.”

Trust Oldham was consulted over the plans to use the Chaddy End for away supporters next season. There was also an online survey. With the Rochdale Road stand now home fans-only, the team’s “Athleticos” fans will be housed in the top-left section, looking out from the main stand.

“It’s their favoured position,” Moisley added. “It means there’s a dedicated singing section for fans.”

Moisley, who has now been in his job for three months, is keen to promote the merits of the new family section.

“We are pushing the new family section and want it to have its own identity,” he said. “We have a lot of junior season ticket holders but they are spread around the ground.”

He is hoping offering £10 season tickets to youngters for that section will bring them all into one place.