Corney keen to clear the air

SIMON CORNEY: Expecting striker back in training as usual.

ATHLETIC were expecting Dean Windass to report for training today, despite the on-loan striker vowing never to return to Boundary Park.

Managing director Simon Corney has been in contact with the 39-year-old striker, who has caused a rumpus with critical comments about Athletic’s management on his internet blog.

Mr Corney is to have a further clear-the-air meeting today with Windass, who is unhappy after being left of the side.

He said: “Dean does not write his own blog and, from what I can gather, he has been misquoted.

“As far as I am concerned nothing has happened and he will be back training this morning.”

The front man, who has scored only one goal in nine appearances for Athletic, was left out of the match-day squad of 16 for last Saturday’s league match at Millwall.

He was a substitute against Leeds United on Monday and was further infuriated after only coming on in the last few minutes to replace Lee Hughes.

Windass is claimed to have said he feels “let down and angry” by the treatment he has received, adding he turned down offers from three Championship clubs to sign for Athletic.

Athletic are hoping to quickly draw a line under the matter as they don’t want distractions and to lose their focus, which is to qualify for the end-of-season play-offs.

Athletic have been impressed by the bidding for the pink shirts worn in Monday’s league game against Leeds.

The auction on the club’s website to raise funds for the ‘Link4Pink Appeal’ at the Royal Oldham Hospital has so far seen £4,170 pledged to the breast cancer charity.

The largest bid so far has been £500 for the shirt worn by Lee Hughes.

Despite keen overnight frost last night and another forecast for tonight, Athletic do not anticipate any problems in hosting Colchester United on Saturday.