Quakers situation alerts Latics

NEW Athletic manager Dave Penney has been given the all clear to raid former side Darlington for players.

Administrators at the crisis League Two club have informed the players they are free to leave.

“If anyone wants to be released from their contract, we would be prepared to let them go,” explained Dave Clark, from Brackenbury Clark & Co.

The administrators had initially issued a statement saying all the players with the exception of Craig Liddle and Neil Maddison had been released.

But after the intervention of the Professional Footballers’ Association, they were forced to backtrack and apologise, admitting the players were still under contract.

The fact the administrators are prepared to release players will alert Penney, who has been linked with up to eight of his former players, notably striker Pawel Abbott and Liechtenstein international winger Franz Burgmeier.

The Quakers players have had their wages deferred since February. This means the club are technically in breach of contracts, which is why players are free to leave.

Penney is also free to appoint Martin Gray as his No 2 and also bring goalkeeping coach Andy Collett to Boundary Park.

The pair are among 10 backroom staff, which also included office, kitchen and maintenance people, who have been made redundant.

Penney, meanwhile, is due back at Boundary Park tomorrow.

The players have been summoned to the club on Wednesday for a meeting when it is likely the retained list will be announced. Athletic must inform the players about their futures by a week tomorrow.

o ATHLETIC legend Andy Ritchie has emerged as a rival to John Sheridan for the managerial vacancy at League Two outfit Chesterfield.

The Spireites are looking for an experienced manager and believe Ritchie, who has been in charge of Athletic, Barnsley and Huddersfield Town, could be the man for them.