Latics want Mvoto answer

JEAN-YVES MVOTO . . . plenty of attention.

Talks are ‘dragging on’ in bid to sign defender

ATHLETIC are hunting down a final answer from defender Jean-Yves Mvoto over whether he wants to sign for the club.

With Paul Black set to pen a contract extension today, it leaves centre-back Mvoto as the only remaining player from last season’s first-team squad confirmed as having been offered a deal, other than scholar Carl Winchester, who has yet to commit his future either to Athletic or elsewhere.

“We have got competition for Jean and that was expected,” said Athletic chief executive Alan Hardy. “We are doing our best to try to convince him to come here.

“We are still talking, but it is dragging on now and if he is going elsewhere we need to know sooner rather than later.”

A hold-up still exists over the compensation payment towards goalkeeper target, believed to be Accrington’s Alex Cisak, while there is no further news on the ambitious moves to bring strikers Clayton Donaldson and Cody McDonald.

Promising centre-back Matty David Carr has signed for Athletic on a one-year deal with the option of a 12-month extension.

The 18-year-old centre of excellence product impressed sufficiently behind the scenes a year ago to gain a place in two first-team friendly squads, on the second occasion featuring as Athletic saw off Premier League Bolton 3-0.

Bury-born Carr joins fellow defender James Tarkowski and winger Connor Hughes as new professionals within the Athletic squad for 2011-12.

Blue Square Bet Premier side Fleetwood Town provide the opposition for Athletic in an away pre-season friendly scheduled for Saturday, July 30 (3pm kick-off).

With a side featuring now-released former Athletic captain Sean Gregan, The Fishermen reached the play-off semi-finals last season, missing out on a place in the final to AFC Wimbledon.




HOSPITALITY packages are available for Athletic’s home pre-season friendlies against Blackpool on Saturday, July 23 (3pm) and Burnley on Tuesday, July 26 (7.45pm).



A half-time buffet and free pint, for over-18s only, is available in the Sponsors Suite and Corner Flag.

The cost is £22 for adults, £17 for over-65s and £15 for juniors and reservations can be made at the ticket office.