Latics boss draws up transfer wish list

ATHLETIC boss Paul Dickov has transfer targets in mind, having started the process of bringing together a squad for next season.

While the playing budget is once again set to be reduced as a result of financial difficulties, the bubbly Scot reckons he can build on the successes of his first term in management.

“We want to get good, young, hungry players in — people with the right attitude,” said Dickov, ahead of tomorrow’s npower League One home clash with Charlton.

“We have got a list, which goes back to when I first took the job.

“We go to five or six games a week earmarking players and I am not going to watch a player once — I will watch him four or five times, Gerry (Taggart) will watch them and so will Paul Butler (chief scout) and Lee Duxbury.

“We do our homework and in our office there are a couple of folders full of information on players.

“What I have to spend next season will dictate who I can and can’t get. But I am confident I can build a squad to go with what we have got here.

“We are looking to bring in players but I will stand by the players who have been so good for me this year.”

One of the players sure to be on Dickov’s wish list is on-loan defender Jean-Yves Mvoto, was has been told by his parent club Sunderland that he is free to leave at the end of the season.

Athletic have a host of players out of contract in the summer and Dickov said it will be difficult to break the news to them that they have to find employment elsewhere.

“There will be some going, yes,” he said. “I am not going to get into that yet because I won’t sit down with the players until the end of the season.

“A lot will be dictated by the money we have as well.

“I think the world of the players and I will have to tell some of them they are not getting new contracts.

“It is something I am learning, but while it isn’t nice it is something I have to do for the good of the football club.”

As far as the goals for the remainder of this season are concerned, the manager has targeted a top-10 finish.

“It is a hard task and we are going to have to go on an unbeaten run, but we have seen this season that we can do that,” Dickov said.

“The games we have got, with the players we have got and how they are feeling fitness and confidence-wise, there is no reason why we can’t.”

Reuben Reid is set to start up front against Charlton tomorrow in place of the injured Filipe Morais (hip).

Left-back Paul Black had an operation to release a muscle in his abdomen earlier this week and is now set to miss the rest of the campaign.