Pro deal offer for Winchester

RISING star Carl Winchester has been offered a two-year professional contract with Athletic.

The talented 18-year-old, who can operate equally at full-back or in a central or right-sided midfield role, scored his first goal for the club against MK Dons on Saturday — a left-footed screamer from 25 yards.

Placed on stand-by duty for Northern Ireland’s under-21s European qualifier in the Faroes on Tuesday, May 31, the ex-Linfield teenager has been offered a deal despite only just having completed the first of his two-year scholarship.

The offer has been put to Winchester, as have similar proposals for promising centre-back James Tarkowski and winger Connor Hughes.

Centre-back Matty D Carr has been offered a one-year pro contract.

With Athletic’s budget having been cut for next season, all those players are likely to gain substantial first-team experience in 2011-12 should they sign.

Meanwhile, Athletic have announced the first winner in their season ticket prize draw.

Robert Brierley of Morecambe has claimed the prize of a season ticket free of charge, thanks to a draw which takes place after every 500 have been sold by the club.

Sales are now well on the way to passing the 1,000 mark ahead of next Thursday’s noon discount deadline.

Athletic are asking that fans buy their season tickets earlier rather than later in order to avoid congestion at the ticket office.

Opening hours are 9am to 5pm on Monday to Friday and 9am to noon on Saturday.



SEAN Gregan won’t be playing League Two football with Fleetwood Town next season, after his side were emphatically defeated in the Blue Square Bet Premier play-off semi-finals by AFC Wimbledon.
The Dons won 6-1 in their home second leg at Kingsmeadow last night, following up a previous 2-0 away from home. Former Athletic captain Gregan was withdrawn at half-time.