Latics to move for Heffernan

ATHLETIC boss Dave Penney will attempt to land Paul Heffernan, after the sale of Chris O’Grady to Rochdale was confirmed.

The 23-year-old put pen to paper on a two-and-a-half year deal at Spotland to end an unhappy and goalless spell at Boundary Park, thus freeing up cash in the budget for Penney to go forward-hunting.

Rochdale requested that the fee they paid for O’Grady not be made public, but it is believed the former Rotherham man, who joined at the start of last season but was subsequently farmed out on loan to Bury, Bradford and Stockport before joining his new club on a three-month agreement earlier this season, cost just under £100,000.

At least some of the O’Grady money will be assigned to Penney’s search for new blood, ahead of a vitally important run of games including three in a row at home before the end of this month.

A replacement striker will be sought and the first port of call is Doncaster and a renewed swoop for Heffernan.

The Irish forward, who scored one goal in four games in a one-month loan spell at Athletic earlier this season, is well-known to Penney from their work together at the South Yorkshire club and would be viewed as an ideal attacking partner for Pawel Abbott.


STOCKPORT have caused a furore by electing to hold an early pitch inspection today before tomorrow’s scheduled game with Athletic.

The Football League have agreed to County’s proposal, but Athletic officials are very unhappy and feel that the playing surface at Edgeley Park should be given as long as possible to thaw out - particularly given the close geographical proximity of the two clubs - and that a Saturday morning inspection would have been a more suitable course of action.

Temperatures around Manchester are forecast to get as high as 6C during today and no lower than 4C this evening.

Alex Marrow has recovered from a facial injury and Keigan Parker and Reuben Hazell — suspended for the 2-1 defeat at Hartlepool — are also in contention for Athletic.

Rob Purdie was back in to see a specialist yesterday as he bids to overcome a long-standing pelvic injury.