Latics keep ‘open mind’
Reporter: MATTHEW CHAMBERS
Date published: 18 May 2010
ALAN HARDY: The Athletic chief executive says the club have had a “tremendous amount of interest” for the managerial post at Boundary Park.
New boss in place by end of month
ATHLETIC are hoping for a season-tickets boost by naming their new boss before the end of this month.
Club officials have sifted through a large number of serious applications, and prime candidates are set to be interviewed at Boundary Park next week.
Chief executive Alan Hardy says that the club’s directors will not make a decision over whether or not to appoint someone with previous experience until the the process is complete.
“We have had a tremendous amount of interest,” Hardy said. “Some applications are from people who have managed before and some are from ex-footballers looking to move into management for the first time.
“Until we come to interview, we are keeping an open mind.”
The deadline for the biggest season ticket discounts for current holders expires on Thursday evening, May 20.
After that, discounted prices are available for all supporters until the end of the working day a week later on Thursday, June 3.
And Athletic are aiming to have their new man in place in time for the end of May, which would give fans the chance to take advantage of the latter discounts.
The new manager will inherit a squad which includes first-team men Paul Black, Kieran Lee and Ryan Brooke, all of whom have recently committed their future to Athletic for next season.
With the squad cleared out of five first-year professionals who have been let go, there will be scope for Dave Penney’s replacement to bring in players as Athletic bid to improve on this season’s 16th-placed finish in Coca-Cola League One, albeit on a lesser budget.
Athletic are guaranteed at least three trips to London next season, following Charlton’s exit from the play-offs last night (see Page 35).
From a purely financial point of view, the club will hope for Millwall to follow Swindon into the League One play-off final at Wembley tonight at the expense of nearby Huddersfield Town.
The teams meet tonight at the New Den, with the score locked at 0-0 after the first leg of the tie.
The final takes place on Saturday, May 29 (3pm kick-off).
