Defender makes Latics bow

KENNY Strickland was a new face in the Athletic reserve side which signed off the season with a 3-0 totesport.com League defeat at Carlisle United.

Released by Chelsea, the club the 19-year-old right back or central defender joined at the start of this season, Strickland hails from Skelmersdale and spent a two-year scholarship at Manchester United.

Also out to impress were centre-back pair Jermaine Johnson and Kristian Platt, formerly of Derby County and Chester City respectively, while senior first-team squad members Chris Rowney, Joe Colbeck, Lewis Alessandra also got run-outs, as did physio Jon Guy.
Conspicuous by his absence was young striker Tom Eaves, who remains in limbo.

The 18-year-old has not signed a professional contract with the club and manager Dave Penney said he will not select him for the first team until he does, rendering it highly unlikely Eaves will be involved against Charlton Athletic in the final game of the season at Boundary Park on Saturday.

Chief executive Alan Hardy was hoping to talk to the player about the ongoing situation today.

Elsewhere, Doncaster Rovers have revealed their retained list for next season and two familiar faces have been released by the South Yorkshire club.

Striker pair Paul Heffernan, who had a spell with Athletic earlier this season, and Lewis Guy, who remains on loan at Boundary Park, could be approached by Dave Penney with regard to signing for next season.

Guy has scored three goals in 11 games and has proven to be a useful outlet with his pace.

Athletic will reveal their own retained list next week.




CHARLTON Athletic have sold more than 1,000 tickets already for Saturday’s game, at which supporters can pay cash at the turnstiles.