Penney targets trio of signings

ATHLETIC boss Dave Penney is hoping to complete his squad rebuilding plans with three key signings in the next few says.

Penney has identified the acquisition of a goalkeeper, central defender and striker as his priorities and is looking to tie up deals as soon as possible.

“These are the three areas I am looking to strengthen, either permanently or through the loan option, which we are also exploring,” said Penney.

The departures of Mark Crossley and Josh Bell have left Greg Fleming and first-year professional Josh Ollerenshaw as the only two ’keepers at Boundary Park. And Penney has always maintained he would like to have three keepers on the books for the new season.

Similarly, Penney needs central-defensive back-up for Sean Gregan and Reuben Hazell, the first-choice partnership for most of last season.

Interestingly, former Latics player Will Haining has been training with the club after leaving Scottish side St Mirren.

Haining, whose wife Michelle is from Oldham, wants to return to this area and asked Athletic if he could work with them until he finds a club.

Athletic are also still looking to increase their firepower despite last week capturing Pawel Abbott from Penney’s former club Darlington.

Chris O’Grady, who had loan spells at Bury, Bradford and Stockport last season, has returned to Boundary Park and Matt Wolfenden has a short-term contract to prove his fitness after last season’s injury troubles.

But Penney would like another front player and has been linked with Ian Moore, who decided to join Tranmere in preference to Athletic in January 2008.

Moore (32), the son of former Latics manager Ronnie, has a wealth of experience having also played for Nottingham Forest, Stockport, Burnley, Leeds and Hartlepool.

Meanwhile, Penney is pleased with the way pre-season training has gone so far.

He says the players, who were given fitness programmes to carry out during the off-season break, have all returned in good shape.


FORMER Athletic player Earl Barrett has left the backroom staff at Boundary Park to take up a part-time coaching role in the Academy at Premier League side Stoke City.

Barrett last season ran the under-11 side at Athletic’s centre of excellence and had been earmarked to take charge of the under-16s in the current campaign.