Taggart targets battle plan

GERRY TAGGART: rousing fans and players

We must get it right on and off the pitch, says Latics assistant manager

ASSISTANT manager Gerry Taggart hopes Athletic can come up with a strategy for success.

Paul Dickov’s right-hand man has appealed for the club to sort out various “issues” in the

off-season, including the need to draw in more fans through the gates at Boundary Park.

Taggart will concentrate mainly on reshaping the playing squad in his first full summer with the club, most likely working to a reduced and restrictive budget.

And he admits the challenges which lie ahead for the cash-strapped club and its board are big ones.

“I don’t think there are any easy solutions,” said Taggart, who travels down with the Athletic squad to Taunton today ahead of tomorrow’s npower League One match against Yeovil.

“There are a few issues which need to be sorted out around the club, on and off the pitch.

“My job is to concentrate on what happens on the field. It is going to take a bit of time and a few meetings between now and pre-season to try to sort out issues which can move the club forward.

“Everybody here wants to move it forward and nobody is in it for themselves. We are willing to give blood, sweat and tears and do what it takes.

“We are beginning to understand what this club is all about and what it means to the local community.

“Without the local community, this club is a dead duck.

“That is one issue and then there is the playing side.

“As well as myself and Paul Dickov, the chief scout Paul Butler has a big role to play in this as well.”

One set of players who are set to stay on for next term are second-year scholar trio James Tarkowski, Connor Hughes and Matty D Carr, all of whom have been offered their first professional deals.

Along with the rest of the coaching staff, including head of youth Tony Philliskirk and centre of excellence manager Mick Priest, Athletic had one specific idea in mind when determining who should be offered terms.

“There was a lot of debate about the young lads who were out of contract,” added Taggart.

“Basically, the reason why they were given contracts was down to my main concern — could everyone in the room see those players getting into our first team?

“The answer for those three was ‘yes’ and that is why they got contracts.”