Athletic sign Worthington

Chris O’Grady (left): Hoping to pick up the threads of his Latics career.

LATE NEWS:

ATHLETIC have completed their second signing of the summer by agreeing a two-year contract with 26-year-old former Huddersfield Town midfield man Jonathan Worthington.

He joins ex-Darlington man Rob Purdie, who was new manager Dave Penney’s first recruit at the end of last week.

O’Grady keen to take his chance

ATHLETIC manager Dave Penney has offered an olive branch and new start to Chris O’Grady, the Boundary Park club’s forgotten striker.

The 23-year-old returns after having spent most of last season on loan at Bury, Bradford and Stockport.

Penney said: “For whatever reason Chris lost his way last season when he went out on loan to three clubs. He will report back with everyone else with a clean slate and with the chance to make a fresh start.

“I have spoken to him and he is young and appears hungry and wanting to do well. It is up to him to fight for a place.”

O’Grady is keen to put the horrors of his debut campaign behind him.

“I don’t think it could get any worse than that,” declared the striker who was bought from Rotherham last summer.

The departure of John Sheridan and appointment of Penney as manager is viewed as not only the dawn of a new era for Athletic but also O’Grady.

He said: “I look on it as a new start and I am hoping change brings opportunity.”

O’Grady understands why Sheridan allowed him to leave to get regular first-team football as he only had bit-part substitute roles.

But things did not go to plan.

O’Grady said: “I didn’t even get regular first-team football at Bury and Bradford and it was only at Stockport later in the season that I had a decent run in their side.

“Only the time at Stockport was beneficial, though the club was in a mess off the pitch and that affected our performances as we went on a losing run and confidence was low.”

O’Grady admitted having spells at four clubs last season did not help him in terms of stability.

He said: “In the two or three previous years I had gradually progressed by scoring more and more goals and making more of an impact in games.

“It was the first time I had taken a backward step, but I feel more confident that I can change things round.”

O’Grady kicked off his career at Leicester City for whom he scored once in 24 league appearances in almost five seasons with the Foxes.

He joined Rotherham midway through the 2006/07 campaign and the following season found the net 11 times which alerted Sheridan who signed him last summer for an undisclosed fee which was thought to be £30,000.