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Sickener
Reporter: MATTHEW CHAMBERS
Date online: 31 January 2012
Latics count cost of Trophy agony
ATHLETIC were today left picking up the pieces after the club failed to significantly cut losses for the season.
A 1-0 defeat in the return leg on the Northern area final of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final against Chesterfield, despite a dominant performance, means the club misses out on a prestigious appearance at Wembley plus a sum of money of anything up to £400,000 as a result of reaching the showpiece occasion.
With a predicted shortfall of more than £1million this year, the 3-1 aggregate defeat is a huge financial blow.
Chairman Simon Corney was not present for the agonising spectacle having witnessed the first leg, but fellow director Barry Owen was clear on just how painful and frustrating it was to watch as Paul Dickov’s men fell agonisingly short.
“At one stage it looked like it was going to be the most one-sided 0-0 draw you will ever see,” said Owen, after a game won by a late Jack Lester strike for the Spireites, who now face either Barnet or Swindon in the final on March 25.
“The fact we made a mess at the end for their goal doesn’t speak volumes for the game as a whole. Throughout, the lads put in 100-per-cent and it just didn’t look as if our name was on the cup.
“It is very, very disappointing. There was tremendous support and you can’t fault the effort.
“The ball just would not go in the net for us.”
The window for permanent transfers closes at 11pm tonight.
Speculation will inevitably follow that with a relatively safe league position — for now, at least — of 16th in npower League One, players could leave Boundary Park, given the right deal for the club, to help bridge the financial gap.
“We have had one good pay-day this season at Liverpool and winning this one would have cut the losses a lot,” admitted Owen.
“In respect of the league, we are in a better position than Chesterfield.
“They have got to Wembley but they have to cement their safety in this division. I would like to think we are safe, but we have got to get on with it now.”
On the injuries front, captain Dean Furman was not fit to play last night as a result of his knee problem and replacement skipper Zander Diamond joins him as a doubt for Saturday’s home game against Leyton Orient after hobbling off at half-time.
The loan spell of midfielder Tom Adeyemi runs out today, though the player is keen to stay on at Boundary Park for the rest of the season if parent club Norwich City allow it.
FOR updates on any moves in or out of Boundary Park today, log on to www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk
Comments
You know i am sick of hearing this bull by the club!, they tell us all the required funding is in place for the season, then there are cuts, these cup runs are extra revenue, extra revenue could have been put towards a new loan striker as the ones we have cannot hit a barn door aptly shown last night
Barry thinks we are safe does he, well has he looked at the stats no win since mid december 10 goals against 3 for, strikers that cant score, most of the team leaving at the end of the season either loans ending or contracts up, well i can tell you Barry we are in a relagation scrap!!!!
Football is funny old business and last night proved the point yet again. Latics started so well with excellent chances falling to both Kuqi and Morais. An early goal would have settled the nerves, and I genuinely think we would have gone on to win the tie. So near to Wembley but yet so far!!. As to league postion mid table is best we can hope for, which combined with FA Cup and JP trophy results is maybe not such bad season for Latics ??.
Where was Corney last night?......Couldn't manage to be there for such an important game!! Get rid of most of this squad of players as they seem to have it too easy and are unable to perform when it matters....and they wonder why the fans are not coming in large numbers. Not too long ago they were getting crowds of around 5-6 thousand,now its more like 3,500 and they will be lucky to get 3,000 on Saturday....R.I.P. OAFC
WELL WHAT DID PEOPLE EXPECT TOTALY DUFF STRIKERS WHO WOULDENT SCORE IN A PUB TEAM ,STILL NEED 8 WINS TO STAY UP, CAN IT GET BETTER FOR THESE FLOPS WHITH MOST GOING AT THE END OF THE SEASON , WE LIVE IN HOPE
Where has that £400,000 figure come from? Carlisle who have qualified for the final twice say the whole earnings for the entire competiton were £250,000. Typical nonsense remarks from the club or was it the chron?
I hope Barry's "we are safe" attitude is not mirrored by the management and players! We need 20-22 points from 20 games to be safe. We won't reach that on current form (7 points from the last 8 games) That is relegation form and we need to improve by picking up 3 points on Saturday - so let's get behind the lads and pray we find some goals from somewhere.
SO THE PUBLIC OF OLDHAM ARE ASKED TO ATTEND THE MOST IMPORTANT MATCH FOR YEARS WERE WAS SIMON CORNEY WELL MAYBE HE CAN AFFORD SKY
At the moment Latics couldn't win a raffle prize even though they were the only one to buy a ticket!!!
Well there was certainly a buzz last night. A commendable effort sabotaged by woeful finishing and a total inability to cross the ball into back peddling defenders. However we have had more Cup excitement than I expected this term and on track to finish mid-table where I also expect us to finish. My understanding on funding for the season was based on staying in L1, not promotion. Corney is done! We should all prey that the only person interested is not a chicken farmer on another continent.
Barry Owen says .. “In respect of the league, we are in a better position than Chesterfield."
What difference does that make to Latics' plight ? - they are still in a worse position than 15 other teams !!!
Such words by Owen just show how much he is putting his head in the sand and not accepting that the team are just not good enough - and neither are the directors !
Its a shame Latics didn’t get another trip to Wembley. Fans would have been able to recall their previous visit, boarding special trains that took them from their local station, direct to Wembley Stadium.
So perhaps its for the best, that we didn’t quite make it this time. We can’t even get a tram to Manchester let alone Wembley.
You can’t beat progress,.........or Chesterfield.
"It's a shame Latics didn't get another trip to Wembley" what so all the fans could come out of the woodwork again like they did when we played Liverpool, funny how they all disappeared after that game.
Typical comment from Mr Own - cannot see what's going on (or doesn't want to). Blinkered! Mr Corney couldn't be bothered attending the match but will 'have a go' at stay-away supporters. The team is average (at best) - strikers non-existent. A poor result and a big let down for those fans who have stuck by the club. A team of non-league players would have burst their guts ti achieve success but not this lot. The future is looking kind of dim.
"The fact we made a mess at the end for their goal doesn’t speak volumes for the game as a whole. Throughout, the lads put in 100-per-cent and it just didn’t look as if our name was on the cup". Well done Barry. You managed to get 3 football cliches in one breath! (Even though you did mangle the first one).
Not to worry, hasn't Jim McMahon signed off 3200,00 gift? I wonder how long it will be before construction of the proposed new stand begins?
“I wonder how long it will be before construction of the proposed new stand begins?” I suspect it will be long before some people who spend their lives’ commenting negatively on other peoples decision making, actually get themselves in a position to show us all how it should be done. It’s not too difficult, is it?
Have Your Say
Just 4 league wins since the beginning of October should give everyone a clue as to what is wrong with this team.
No doubt a fantastic group of honest individuals working for a great boss.
Sadly none of which counts when it comes to results with just 18 points gained from 16 league matches and clearly nothing like promotion form or positive form that gets results.
Too many excuses, too much of the same old story match after match, and when it comes to getting a result for glory
failure - R.I.P
By Latics Observer @ 31/01/2012 15:31:00