Gregan to leave Latics

SEAN GREGAN: Played his last game for the club

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Athletic’s out-of-contract captain Sean Gregan has been released by new manager Dave Penney.

The 35-year-old defender was informed by Penney today that he is not being offered a new deal.

Gregan had been at Boundary Park for almost three seasons following a move from Leeds United.

The remainder of the playing staff will meet Penney tomorrow now the boss is back from holiday.

Athletic insist there is nothing to worry about after disclosing Chris Taylor was today being admitted to Highfield Hospital.

Physio Mark Czuczman says the 22-year-old forward, who will be given a general anaesthetic, is having a check on his damaged ankle ligaments. He said: “Chris has made excellent progress bearing in mind it is only three weeks since he was injured.

“I am not anticipating any problems, but the surgeon wants to check the ankle. If he finds anything wrong he will operate straight away.

“It is far better to do that now rather than finding something wrong three or four weeks further down the line when a lay-off would rule him out of the start of pre-season.”

Czuczman believes Taylor will be ready for pre-season training as will Reuben Hazell, who is back at Boundary Park for rehab after last week having a minor operation to cure a long-standing groin problem.

The 30-year-old defender has had surgery to loosen ligaments in his pelvis which have been the cause of the muscle ache in his groin which had affected him for much of the season.

Midfield man J P Kalala had a similar operation towards the end of the season and was able to resume training in nine days.

There is also a likelihood that Mark Allott will have a similar operation during the close season as he is showing symptoms.

Czuczman describes the operation as more of a “maintenance” issue than anything to worry about.

Young midfield player Dale Stephens continues to be troubled by a long- standing hip flexor muscle problem which has affected him for much of the campaign.

Stephens was pencilled in to feature in the last game of the season at Walsall only to break down in training in the build-up to the match.


The full story of Gregan’s departure will appear in tomorrow’s Chronicle.