Tug of war

UP AND RUNNING... strikers Warren Feeney (no.17) and Reuben Reid (no.9) lead the way as Athletic started pre-sesason training at the Lancaster Club.

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GOALKEEPER target Alex Cisak was a no-show at Accrington Stanley’s first training session yesterday... but his move to Athletic doesn’t appear to be cut-and-dried yet.

The 22-year-old former Leicester City man , who is out of contract, has been the subject of talks between the respective clubs. At present no agreement has been reached over a fee, which is needed as the player is under the age of 24, to bring him to Boundary Park.

While that is a source of frustration for Paul Dickov — currently without a senior contracted goalkeeper — the potential loss of the Australia under-20 international is believed to have riled Stanley manager John Coleman, who wanted to retain a player whom he believes he provided a platform on which to shine midway through last season.

It appears certain Cisak will not play for Accrington again. But whether a man well-known to Athletic’s ex-Leicester managerial duo Dickov and Gerry Taggart ultimately ends up at Boundary Park could depend on just how strong Coleman’s conviction is.

Even if a fee is agreed between the two clubs for Cisak, the situation could go as far as to potentially become a resignation issue for the long-serving and hugely successful Stanley manager, currently the third longest-serving boss in the domestic game behind Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger.

It is believed that Coleman is already unhappy to have lost a host of players who helped propel the club into the npower League Two play-offs last season and Stanley’s board of directors will be desperate to retain his services.

The eventual outcome could mean Cisak returning to Australia rather than arriving in Oldham. The former option would leave Accrington gaining nothing financially, leaving the latter as the most likely outcome.

Carl Winchester has given Athletic a major boost by signing a two-year professional contract.

The 18-year-old from Belfast has shown great promise already in senior football and scored his first goal for the club in the last-day home defeat to MK Dons.

Now a full Northern Ireland international after making his debut in the Carling Nations Cup against Wales, Winchester provides Dickov with options as he is equally at home at right-back or in the centre of midfield.

With Dale Stephens having now left for Charlton, a new player in the middle of the field is one of Dickov’s priorities for the coming campaign and he could end up going back for former loan star Jason Lowe.

The Blackburn Rovers midfielder featured at the end of last season, scoring twice, though Athletic will probably have to bide their time as most loan deals take place towards the end of pre-season.