Latics close in on loan deals

Paul Heffernan (centre): a possible target for Athletic.

ATHLETIC officials are working hard to tie up deals on at least two fronts before the loan window closes at the end of today.

Manager Dave Penney is almost certain to be targeting a striker, bearing in mind the paucity of goals this season and the fact that leading scorer Pawel Abbott is out of contention until the New Year.

One name that has been linked with the club is Paul Heffernan, the Irish striker signed by Penney for a club record £125,000 while he was at Doncaster in 2005 and a player Athletic have come close to signing in the past.

Lee Hills is set to return to parent club Crystal Palace after his red card at Walsall on Tuesday night but the club may not opt to bring in a replacement left-back given the return to fitness of Joe Jacobson and Kelvin Lomax.

A centre-half could be targeted — though Reuben Hazell, who came off at the Banks’s Stadium with a pulled calf muscle, isn’t causing too much concern ahead of next week’s home match with Leeds — as could another wing option.

“We have discussions going on with a number of clubs and we are trying to improve one or two positions,” said Athletic chief executive Alan Hardy, who said that there were no moves currently on the cards in terms of players leaving the club on loan.

“If nothing comes off, it certainly won’t be for the want of trying.”

After the 5pm deadline today, Athletic will be unable to make any more loan swoops until the window re-opens in January.

Should any players sign for Athletic today, we will bring you the news on our website at www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk when it happens.

Club officials are hopeful that Chris Taylor and Alex Marrow, who both missed the Walsall game through illness, will be back to face Leeds at Boundary Park next Tuesday.

The West Yorkshire club, riding high at the top of League One, have sold at least 3,500 tickets for the game already.