Windass vows to fight for place

Dean Windass: row blowing over

DEAN WINDASS has pledged to remain with Athletic for the remainder of the season to help in their bid for promotion from Coca-Cola League One.

The 39-year-old striker says he is committed to the Boundary Park cause and has never had any intention of quitting.

Windass explained his criticisms of Athletic’s management on an internet blog were made out of frustration and disapppointment and had been blown up into a storm in a tea cup.

He said: “If you ask any player, whether here or at any other club, they are not going to be happy if they are not playing. Unfortunately, Dean Windass comes out and says it whereas others don’t. That is who I am and I won’t change. If they don’t like it, tough.

“Let’s get one thing straight, I am not walking away from Oldham. I am contracted to this football club to the end of the season and hopefully I can help them into the play-offs and to promotion.

“I turned down three Championship clubs and came here to play football as I could have picked up a lot of appearance money had I stayed at Hull and been on the bench.

“I have not come here for the money, simply to play football. I was disappointed not to be playing, and so you should be if you are passionate about the game as I am.

“I don’t want to be on the bench at my age, and I don’t want to be coming on for one minute as I did against Leeds, which I found insulting. The manager may as well not put me on at all.”

Windass says he will be having a chat with Sheridan “as grown men” and he is looking forward to being involved against Colchester, at Boundary Park tomorrow.

He continued: “If the manager tells me I am on the bench I will accept it. But I don’t want the Oldham fans thinking I am a spoilt kid. It is not about that. It is about Oldham Athletic and me wanting to play football for them.”

Athletic manager John Sheridan says he is unaware of the comments made by Windass.

He said: “I haven’t read his blog so I don’t know what the fuss is about and I haven’t fallen out with him. He is one of our players and he will be involved against Colchester.”

Sheridan dismissed a claim that he had reneged on a promise to give Windass a guaranteed starting spot.

He continued: “I have never promised anybody that they will play all the time, and would never do that. I try to pick the best team to win the game.”

Sheridan added he understands that he has a number of players who are frustrated because they are not playing.

He said: “No footballer is ever happy when they are not playing and at the end of the day I can only pick 11. None of those not in the side has given me a problem.

“We have suspensions coming up and there are bound to be injuries. If players come in and do well, they will stay in.”