Way out of order

BLASTING BACK: Tommy Wright says Simon Corney’s remarks angered Athletic’s coaching staff and players.

ATHLETIC co-owner Simon Corney is under fire from the club’s management team after publicly criticising their work.

Mr Corney questioned the preparations for last week’s 2-0 home defeat against Yeovil, while John Sheridan’s side — in particular captain Sean Gregan and striker Lee Hughes — also came in for flak.

His comments on the official club website angered Athletic’s coaching staff and players ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup game at Cheltenham, which ended in a 2-2 draw.

Sheridan has been unable to respond because of illness, but his assistant, Tommy Wright, slammed Mr Corney as “way out of order”.

Wright blasted: “It has been a trying time for everyone because things have been said which shouldn’t have been said.

“There has been a lot of negativity around the place and you’ve got to remember we are seventh in the league. The players don’t deserve this criticism.

“Me and John feel like we are bottom of the league. With everyone that has gone on, it feels like we are adrift.

“There have been grumblings in the dressing room and, to be honest, it wasn’t easy to lift the players.

“The Yeovil game was disappointing and I know we’ve had a bad run, but it’s a long season and we’ll have our ups and downs.

“There has been a negative feeling because a lot of the lads saw it (Mr Corney’s interview) and those things shouldn’t have been said.

“There’s no need for it, especially before a cup tie and when you are only just off the automatic promotion places.

“Me and John are positive that if everyone sticks together we’ve got a chance of promotion. It’s very disappointing and way out of order.”

Athletic have won only two of their last nine league games, but Saturday’s comeback at Cheltenham earned them an FA Cup replay at Boundary Park.

The tie will be staged a week tomorrow, with a second-round game at League Two side Morecambe on offer to the winners.

Striker Brett Ormerod has seen his one-month loan spell with Athletic brought to a premature end.

Ormerod suffered a broken toe in training and will be out of action for up to six weeks. He has now returned to Preston.

Athletic’s youngsters are at home to Rotherham on Wednesday in the FA Youth Cup — and will face Newcastle United in the third round if they win.