Owen issues plea to fans
Reporter: MATTHEW CHAMBERS
Date published: 31 August 2010
Trust calls for supporters to dig deep to help fund Dikaba contract
ATHLETIC director Barry Owen is urgently appealing for fans to help fund a contract to keep a full international at Boundary Park.
Congolese right-back Rodrigue Dikaba, who is currently only on a short-term deal at the club, is the player in question.
According to Trust Oldham, the club cannot afford to sign the 24-year-old permanently without substantial assistance from the new player-share scheme.
The target to help fund Dikaba’s contract is £26,000 per year, with Athletic chairman Simon Corney said to be prepared to exceed that sum himself in order to land the Toulouse-born defender on a permanent basis.
At present, the scheme has raised around £7,000. And the danger is that Dikaba may slip away if he is not snapped up today.
“Paul Dickov wants to sign the player and time is tight with the transfer window shutting tonight,” said Owen, the Trust’s representative on the club’s board of directors.
“We are really looking to see if fans can rally round. This is a genuine attempt.
“The lad himself wants a permanent deal and Paul thinks he is good enough to do the business for the club.”
Dikaba has won nine caps for the Democratic Republic of Congo, making his debut against Gabon in 2008.
He played for French clubs Arras and AS Beauvais Olse and had a spell in Romania last season with Ceahlaul Platra Neamt.
After impressing in a pre-season clash against Preston, Dikaba was subsequently signed on a short-term deal and has since made non-playing appearances on the substitutes’ bench for the first team against Charlton and Yeovil.
“His attitude is spot on, he is hungry and a very good defender,” said Dickov at the time of Dikaba’s official arrival at the club earlier this month.
The Trust is asking for fans to contribute anything from as little as £1 per week to the
scheme. Further details are available from the Trust website (www.trustoldham.co.uk) or through playershare@trustoldham.co.uk on email.
Standing orders can be set up using these details:
Account: Latics Playershare
Bank: RBS (Oldham branch);
Sort Code: 16-27-11; Account no: 10176018.
One-off donations can also be made.
