Captain Furman

DEAN Furman is Athletic’s new captain. Manager Paul Dickov cited the 23-year-old’s leadership qualities in handing him the skipper’s armband, following the departure of Reuben Hazell.

Brought to the club by Dave Penney, Furman added goals to his game in 2010-11, his second season at Boundary Park. He netted five times — including a brilliant strike against Notts County that landed him with the Mitre Goal of the Year prize at the Football League awards.

The former Chelsea, Rangers and Bradford player landed the captaincy ahead of Chris Taylor, with Dickov commenting: “Dean leads by example in the way he trains and also handles himself away from the game.

“He is a credit to himself and if every player were like him, my job would be a lot easier than it is.”