Dickov’s battle to retain stars

BEN AMOS was a major beneficiary of the emergency loan system which FIFA have decided to end.

Latics to enter contract talks with prized assets
ATHLETIC will soon start putting together a squad strategy for next season — with the thorny issue of new playing contracts highest on the agenda.

As it stands, the cash-strapped Boundary Park club have seven professionals — Alex Cisak, Jean-Yves Mvoto, David Mellor, Matt Smith, James Tarkowski, Carl Winchester and Connor Hughes — with deals extending past the summer, all of whom could potentially walk away.
Captain Dean Furman, mainstay winger Chris Taylor, vice-captain Zander Diamond, influential midfield man James Wesolowski, star striker Robbie Simpson and ever-reliable full-back Kieran Lee are among the out-of-contract prize assets manager Paul Dickov will be desperate to keep hold of.

With money tight — chairman Simon Corney, says Athletic are set to lose £1million this year — another cut in the playing budget could lead to tense negotiations.

As all of the above players will be aged 24 or over as of June 30, 2012, Athletic would not beentitled to any compensation should they elect to move on.

"I will have a meeting with Paul in the next couple of weeks to discuss player contracts," Corney confirmed.

Meanwhile, Athletic's chairman has blasted a new FIFA edict which will see an end to emergency loans outside designated transfer windows from 2014.

This season the club has brought in Robbie Simpson, Luca Scapuzzi and Andrea Mancini outside the window.

Corney cites the example of Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Amos — who arrived at Boundary park on a regular loan last season and played 16 games for the club — as an illustration of the benefits short loans can bring.

“You only have to look at Ben Amos, a player we had on loan last season.

“If he hadn't come here to gain experience, would (United manager) Sir Alex Ferguson have picked him recently?

"FIFA have not taken into account that the leagues in England are unique," Corney said.

"We are just not the same as Spain or Italy as we have so many professional clubs who rely on the current system.

"We don't know the exact details yet. But I don't think it can help us as a club.

"And I don't think it can help the development of young players, either.

“It isn't just the Premier League. There are plenty of examples of players from the Championship who move to gain experience. It is a disappointing development.”




Athletic’s fixture at Brentford on Saturday is in danger of being postponed.



Freezing conditions over the last few days have hardened the pitch. Snow is forecast to fall overnight and temperatures are not due to rise above 2C before the weekend.

Postponement would mean a third successive Athletic fixture falling victim to the weather.

Athletic have appealed for volunteers to help clear snow from the Boundary Park playing surface with Walsall due to visit next Tuesday.