Penney unveils coaching team

ATHLETIC’S new-look management team is set to be unveiled later today.

Manager Dave Penney will be reunited with Martin Gray and Andy Collett, who worked alongside him at Darlington.

Gray will become Penney’s No 2 while Collett is to be goalkeeping coach - providing the pair agree terms which were offered to them last week.

The fact that Gray and Collett were sacked by Darlington’s administrator earlier this month clears any obstacle to joining Athletic as they are no longer employed by the Quakers so paying compensation is not an issue.

Penney is delighted to team up again with Gray and Collett as they worked well together at Darlington, who reached the League Two play- offs in 2007/08 and would probably have done so again in the season just ended but for their financial troubles.

Gray (37) spent six years at Sunderland where the midfield player made 54 first-team appearances.

He was transferred to Oxford United for £100,000 in 1996 and later had two years at Darlington where he became reserve and youth-team coach in 2001 after retiring.

Gray also had two brief spells as caretaker manager for the Quakers.

Collett (35) played for Middlesbrough, Bristol Rovers and Darlington before a shoulder injury cut short the career of the ’keeper in 2004 when he was appointed goalkeeping coach.

Athletic remind fans they have until a week tomorrow to enjoy discounts on season tickets.

Though sales are lower than at the same time last year, club officials are bracing themselves for the annual late rush.

Chief executive Alan Hardy has whetted the appetite by suggesting it won’t be long before Penney finalises his first signings.

He said: “Dave has been extremely busy speaking to various clubs and players.

“Though the contracts of players run to June 30, I expect we will be in a position to announce some signings well before that date.

“As we have said before, season-ticket revenue is a barometer for the amount of money we can spend on players’ wages so we hope our fans will support our efforts.”


ATHLETIC are to play their reserve-team matches at either Stalybridge Celtic or Hyde United after striking an agreement with both clubs to use their grounds.