Sickener

Photo: Vincent Brown

NIGHT OF FRUSTRATION. . . Shefki Kuqi directs a diving header towards the Chesterfield net, only for his effort to be saved by ’keeper Tommy Lee.

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Latics count cost of Trophy agony
ATHLETIC were today left picking up the pieces after the club failed to significantly cut losses for the season.

A 1-0 defeat in the return leg on the Northern area final of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final against Chesterfield, despite a dominant performance, means the club misses out on a prestigious appearance at Wembley plus a sum of money of anything up to £400,000 as a result of reaching the showpiece occasion.

With a predicted shortfall of more than £1million this year, the 3-1 aggregate defeat is a huge financial blow.

Chairman Simon Corney was not present for the agonising spectacle having witnessed the first leg, but fellow director Barry Owen was clear on just how painful and frustrating it was to watch as Paul Dickov’s men fell agonisingly short.

“At one stage it looked like it was going to be the most one-sided 0-0 draw you will ever see,” said Owen, after a game won by a late Jack Lester strike for the Spireites, who now face either Barnet or Swindon in the final on March 25.

“The fact we made a mess at the end for their goal doesn’t speak volumes for the game as a whole. Throughout, the lads put in 100-per-cent and it just didn’t look as if our name was on the cup.

“It is very, very disappointing. There was tremendous support and you can’t fault the effort.

“The ball just would not go in the net for us.”

The window for permanent transfers closes at 11pm tonight.

Speculation will inevitably follow that with a relatively safe league position — for now, at least — of 16th in npower League One, players could leave Boundary Park, given the right deal for the club, to help bridge the financial gap.

“We have had one good pay-day this season at Liverpool and winning this one would have cut the losses a lot,” admitted Owen.

“In respect of the league, we are in a better position than Chesterfield.

“They have got to Wembley but they have to cement their safety in this division. I would like to think we are safe, but we have got to get on with it now.”

On the injuries front, captain Dean Furman was not fit to play last night as a result of his knee problem and replacement skipper Zander Diamond joins him as a doubt for Saturday’s home game against Leyton Orient after hobbling off at half-time.

The loan spell of midfielder Tom Adeyemi runs out today, though the player is keen to stay on at Boundary Park for the rest of the season if parent club Norwich City allow it.



FOR updates on any moves in or out of Boundary Park today, log on to www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk