Penney primed for challenge

DAVE PENNEY is relishing the challenge of trying to revive the fortunes of Athletic.

The 44-year-old has signed a two-year contract having quit crisis-club Darlington hours before taking charge at Boundary Park yesterday afternoon.

Penney, who Athletic say was their number one target, said: “The main aim is to build a successful team which is attractive to watch.

“This club has tradition and is a proper footballing club and I want to be successful at this level again.”

“Athletic have been there or thereabouts in the last three seasons, and we have to try to build on that.

“There will be changes in players and personnel on and off the field and it is a case of building the team I want.”

Penney also believes Coca-Cola League One next season could be the toughest for many years.

He explained: “When you look at the three teams coming down - Charlton, Southampton and possibly Norwich, they were all in the Premier League until fairly recently.

“Then you have the teams in the play-off places who don’t go up and the likes of Huddersfield who are going to give it a good go. It will be a really tough division.

“I wouldn’t like to make any promises where we will end up, but we will give it a really good go.”

Penney will have a watching brief from the stands at Walsall, where he must quickly evaluate his playing staff with the season ending tomorrow.

To assist him, he will also be watching DVDs from recent matches as well as seeking advice from outgoing caretaker manager Joe Royle.

Penney has yet to decide on the composition of his management team, saying nothing has been sorted. It had been reported that No 2 Martin Gray and goalkeeping coach Andy Collett would join him.

Likewise, it has been mentioned he could bring several players with him from Darlington, notably striker Pavel Abbott, and Liechtenstein international winger Franz Burgmeier.

Penney said: “There are a couple of good footballers at Darlington, but I would not like to name names.

“I certainly won’t be focusing on Darlington. I will have a good look around elsewhere to see which players are available and what positions we need filling.”

He hopes to have his squad in place for June 29 when training resumes so they can have six week’s solid preparations for the new campaign.