Dickov set for new deal

Carry on the good work, says Corney
ATHLETIC chairman Simon Corney has confirmed manager Paul Dickov and his backroom staff will remain with the club for next season, with a set of new contracts set to be thrashed out.

“We had a long conversation and everyone is pretty relaxed about it,” said Corney, who was pleased with the job done by the rookie boss in 2010-11 after he was appointed on a rolling 12-month deal.

“I asked if Paul wanted to stay, he said yes and so now we will sort out a new contract, it is as simple as that.”

Dickov, who brought in assistant Gerry Taggart and sports scientist Paul Butler to the club after he was appointed, led Athletic to 17th place in the npower League One table.

Illness, injuries, suspensions and a sudden loss of form contributed to a second half of the season which paled in comparison to the pre-February period when a play-off place seemed reachable.

A total of six senior players with deals running out at the end of June have been offered the chance to stay for at least another season as Dickov looks to improve the quality within his squad.

And Corney is confident the majority will remain at Boundary Park.

“Hopefully most of the players we had here last year will stay on," he said.

“I wouldn’t read too much into the cut in budget. A lot of it has been exaggerated.

“It is no secret that other clubs are also cutting down.

“I think players who are looking for offers elsewhere will find there is simply not the money out there that there once was, so I think the majority will stay with us.”

Corney anticipates that Athletic may not rely so heavily this season on loans.

Including season-long arrangements, the club fielded a total of eight loan players during the campaign.

A proposal being put forward at next month’s Football League annual meeting in Cyprus is for clubs to only be allowed four loan players in any matchday squad. The current limit is five.

“Paul is going through a list of targets now and prioritising those players he wants.

“I don’t anticipate much happening before we get to June.

“We will look to keep on blooding youth and hopefully not rely quite as heavily as we did this season on loan players.

“But I don’t want to put pressure on Paul by setting any targets.”


ATHLETIC are reporting a brisk trade in season tickets, with the deadline for discounts at noon tomorrow.