Gloomy financial picture spells trouble for players

CHRIS TAYLOR may be injured at the moment, but at least he had two reasons to smile at the weekend. The winger received the Latics player of the month award for April from Spindles Town Square manager Mike Flanagan, and was included in the PFA’s League One team of the season.

AS THE economic downturn continues to bite, a record number of professional footballers face being out of work this summer as clubs cut their playing staffs.

Athletic stand-in manager Joe Royle admits it is a period of uncertainty for players, especially at Coca-Cola League One level and below.

Royle said: “It is a worrying time for players when their contracts run out.

“You have to remember players have families to support and mortgages to pay and there are no Aston Martins in our car park, believe me.”

It is a worrying time for football as a whole, with up to a dozen of the 92 league clubs reported to be in serious financial difficulties.

Royle added: “I don’t know exactly how many clubs there are, but it is no secret Charlton Athletic are struggling financially and Southampton are in an even worse plight.”


ATHLETIC’S campaign may have fallen apart on the pitch, but off it they continue to pick up awards.

Stu Vose has become the latest recipient after being named Webmaster of the Year.

It is an award voted for by representatives of the 72 Football League, five Premier League and a number of non-league clubs.

Athletic narrowly failed to make it a double, finishing runners-up by a single vote to Bristol City in the Website of the Year award.

Vose (24) joined Athletic in July, 2006, after spending a year editing the student newspaper at Newcastle University where he obtained a degree in English literature.

“It is brilliant to win the award and it came as a surprise,” said Vose, a lifelong Athletic fan.

Athletic’s latest honour follows their Family Excellence Award and the naming of Neal Eardley and Chris Taylor in the PFA League One team of the season.