Latics keep powder dry

dale stephens... Athletic have had enquiries about the midfielder, says manager Paul Dickov.

Dickov prepared to wait to get right players
FOOTBALL’S transfer market resembles the early stage of a poker tournament at the moment.

Amid the odd little bluff and counter-bluff here and there, very few managers are rushing in for an early gamble.

Likewise, many a player is keeping a close guard on his chips, not wanting to show his hand too early.

According to Athletic manager Paul Dickov, such gentle goings-on in an often crazy casino are only to be expected at this stage.

And he remains optimistic that he will ultimately land his royal flush.

“We are speaking to quite a few players at the moment and we are getting good vibes back,” said Dickov, who has returned after a post-season holiday break.

“It is just a case of getting deals done.

“But there is no rush. We will speak to people and make sure we get the right players in.

“We must be doing something good, because players want to come here.

“Word must be out that we are a good club to come to. I have got players and agents calling me up all the time.”

Dickov admits he “can’t wait” to get stuck into pre-season training, which resumes at the end of the month.

For now, he has 13 professionals on the books — Filipe Morais being the latest to commit to the club with plenty more still to come.

Joining them will be a selection of footballers who are looking to earn deals by impressing both behind closed doors and in friendly games open to the public.

Last season the sheer volume of new faces in pre-season matches left many puzzled faces among the Athletic faithful in the stands — not to mention in the press box, where one confused commentator at Barrow took the team sheet in front of him as gospel, believing it really was Manchester City’s decorated Vincent Kompany rather than his brother Francois in the visiting defence.

Dickov says a similar situation will not arise 12 months on.

“We won’t be going as heavily with trialists as we did last time, now that we have a year’s experience under our belts,” he added.

“We will be bringing some in, but we will be doing our homework on them first.

“You have to be fair to everyone. We are a close-knit group and while I wouldn’t say that getting too many in would upset the apple cart as such, we don’t want eight or nine in at the same time as the rest of the squad is trying to get ready for the new season.”

Athletic’s manager has been told that his playing budget can be increased by way of transfer fees for star assets, such as Dale Stephens, who spent the latter part of the season on loan at Southampton.

Again, though, he asserted that he will not allow the club to be ripped off when it comes to the sums involved.

“We have had a few enquiries, but it is nothing new,” Dickov said.

“I have said all along that we want to keep players here and we have made that clear to everyone that has made an enquiry.

“People on the outside probably look at us and see that the wages have been paid late a couple of times and think that because of that, they can take advantage.

“But that is not the case. I want to keep my best players here and we will take a strong stance.”