Latics extend ticket deadline

ATHLETIC have extended the deadline for supporters to buy season tickets at discount prices after reporting their best single-day sales figures so far.

The club raked in just short of £100,000 yesterday, making up for a sluggish start to ticket sales.

Chief executive Alan Hardy said: “The couple of signings we have made (Rob Purdie and Jon Worthington) possibly had an effect.

“We would have liked to have completed more transfer business by now as it obviously creates interest. But we will not be rushed into things and I expect more new players to be arriving next week.”

The season ticket-sale deadline was set for noon today but Athletic have extended this to noon on Saturday.

Meanwhile, strikers and centre-backs are at the top of manager Dave Penney’s hit-list as the new Athletic boss continues to shape his squad for next season.

Having snapped up the versatile Purdie from Darlington and midfield “enforcer” Worthington, the former Huddersfield skipper, Penney hopes to strengthen these two key areas before the League One season kicks off on August 8.

Following the end-of-season clear-out when nine players left Boundary Park, Athletic are short of central defensive cover and have no recognised senior striker on the books.

As it stands, Athletic’s squad consists of:

Goalkeepers: Greg Fleming.

Defenders: Neal Eardley, Kelvin Lomax, Reuben Hazell and Paul Black.

Midfielders: Jon Worthington, Danny Whitaker, Chris Taylor, Kieran Lee and Dale Stephens.

Forwards: Chris O’Grady, Deane Smalley, Lewis Alessandra and Matt Wolfenden (on short-term contract).

Plus utility man Rob Purdie and first-year professionals Ryan Brooke, Josh Ollerenshaw, Liam Dawson and Chris Rowney.

Penney has lodged interest in a host of players and is awaiting responses as he has the scope to bring in about half-a-dozen new outfield recruits, plus goalkeeping back-up for Fleming.