Latics look to lighten the load

ATHLETIC expect to trim their squad size further by the end of this week.

Rodrigue Dikaba’s enforced departure left manager Paul Dickov with 33 professionals available to him — a number still far too large for a club with Athletic’s small wage budget.

Senior professionals Andy Holdsworth and transfer-listed quartet Rob Purdie, Kelvin Lomax, Greg Fleming and Jon Worthington have not played a single minute of first-team football in 2010-11.

Ex-captain Sean Gregan, who is hoping to move out on loan soon, only has a single late appearance as substitute to his name, as does transfer-listed left-back Joe Jacobson.

Deane Smalley is currently out on loan at Athletic’s npower League One rivals Rochdale.

The winger has played a total of three times for Dale, all as a substitute, and his one-month spell at Spotland runs out after Saturday’s home match against Dagenham.

Trimming the squad could allow Dickov to move into the market to pick up replacements, depending on budgetary constraints.

Currently, Athletic have one player — Cedric Evina — on loan at the club from Arsenal, but the Premier League outfit are paying the left-back’s wages.

Dikaba, who was on non-contract terms, will not be returning to Boundary Park after falling foul of club discipline.

The DR Congo midfielder was injured on international duty, but instead of returning to the club for treatment as instructed, he decided to go and see his own doctor in Paris.

The decision didn’t go down well with Dickov, who said: “He saw his own doctor who informed him he would be out for 10 days and Rodrigue said he would be staying in Paris for that period.

“We have a great set of lads here and I don’t want any individual spoiling what we are building.”