Latics breathe sigh of relief

PAUL BLACK: Extended his loan spell at Barrow.

ATHLETIC have revealed their delight after reaching the end of the transfer window without any key players being sold.

Despite receiving a number of bids over the last three months, manager John Sheridan was able to keep all of the assets who have helped his side make an unbeaten start to the league season.

There were no arrivals or departures before the midnight deadline, with the only deal involving teenager Paul Black.

The defender’s one-month loan at non-league Barrow has been extended to the start of next year.

Chief executive Alan Hardy said: “The concern before the deadline was that we would be forced to sell some of our promising young players.

“But everything stayed fairly quiet and we’ve managed to hold our squad together, certainly until the next transfer window in January.

“The pressures might be different in a few months’ time, but at the moment we have a strong squad and hopefully we’ll have a good first half of the season.

“If the team is in a similar position in January (Athletic are currently second in League One), we might not consider offers anyway.”

Athletic could win their first honour of the season later this week as Sheridan has been nominated for the League One manager of the month award.

Also on the shortlist are Nigel Pearson, whose Leicester side are ahead of Athletic on goal difference, John Ward of third-placed Carlisle and Micky Adams of fourth-placed Brighton.

Athletic launch their Johnstone’s Paint Trophy campaign with a home tie against Morecambe tonight (7.45 kick-off).

Admission is free for under-16s, while other prices have been slashed to £10 (adults) and £5 (senior citizens).

Sheridan is planning changes but, under competition rules, at least six of the team from Saturday’s draw with Colchester will be named in the starting XI.

Greg Fleming and Kieran Lee could make home debuts, Stefan Stam is likely to replace Sean Gregan and Craig Davies is hoping for a return to the side.

ATHLETIC (from): Crossley, Fleming, Eardley, Hazell, Stam, Lomax, Liddell, Smalley, Allott, Maher, Whitaker, Taylor, Lee, Stephens, Hughes, Alessandra, O’Grady, Davies, Gregan.

Morecambe have taken only one point from four league games, but they reached the northern final of last season’s Trophy.

MORECAMBE (from): Roche, McStay, Bentley, Artell, Adams, Wainwright, McCann, Carr, Curtis, Howe, Blinkhorn, O’Carroll, Drummond, Hunter, McLachlan, Davies, Howard.