Don’t panic!

SIMON CORNEY: no need for panic

ATHLETIC had prepared for the departure of co-owners Simon Blitz and Danny Gazal.

New chairman Simon Corney has revealed that Athletic had been mindful for a while of the likelihood that Blitz and Gazal would relinquish their roles at the club and they were ready for it to happen.

And in an attempt to ease fans’ fears about the future of Athletic, Mr Corney said today: “As a board we have been planning as how best to resolve the situation to make certain we had plans in place to ensure we can get through the forthcoming season.

“We are no different to most other football clubs who are struggling because times are hard, but we are satisfied that the plans we have in place will take us through the new season.”

Blitz stepped down from his position as Athletic chairman yesterday, saying he had done all he could to take the club forward. Gazal also quit as a director. They have both left the board with immediate effect.

But Mr Corney was also quick to reassure worried supporters about the future of the club and says they are already talking to potential new investors.

Blitz and Gazal have both made personal loans to Athletic, but they have no plans at the moment to call them in.

Mr Corney also said that it would be business as usual for new manager Paul Dickov, who is only three days away from taking charge of his first warm-up game at Barrow.

“We have prepared our budget for the season, know our income and are also seeking other sources of income and means of financing the club,” said Mr Corney.

“We are also talking to other potential investors, but they have to be the right people.

“That probably affects every club in every division from Manchester United and Liverpool in the Premier League down if somebody comes forward with the right money and business plan to take the club forward. What we don’t want is somebody coming in on a short-term fix.

“In the past we have spoken to people who were prepared to invest certain sums, but they were never enough to give us the confidence that they could take the club forward.”

Mr Corney also said the departure of Blitz and Gazal, who along with himself took control of the club in 2003, would not impact on the proposed move to a new stadium in Failsworth.

He said: “The plans are still on-going and they have not changed.

“Our business plan for the new stadium is a self-supporting development and it was never going to be a case of having to rely on an individual putting money in.

“The whole purpose was to build something which generated enough income to fund all its running costs and we are still meeting with Oldham Council and hopefully it will proceed.”




MANAGER Paul Dickov has named former Leeds and Sunderland defender Paul Butler as chief scout.

The 37-year-old, who had spells at Rochdale, Bury and Wolves, also holds a UEFA ‘A’ coaching licence.

Butler, who retired from the game 16 months ago, will be aiming to pinpoint promising young talent to reduce the age of the squad.

He is the second Paul Butler to arrive at Boundary Park after his namesake was appointed to supervise fitness and rehabilitation as well as introduce an injury prevention programme for the players.