Latics ‘core’ in place

welcome: Liam Jacob (right) with Athletic goalkeeping coach Paul Gerrard

Wesolowski and Simpson signatures vital — Taggart
GERRY Taggart feels Athletic can build a squad around a solid core of know-how next season.

The number of professionals signed for the 2012-13 season has expanded to 16 with the capture of former Liverpool and Manchester United goalkeeper Liam Jacob (17) on a one-year deal.

Released by United, Sydney-born Jacob becomes the third Australian goalkeeper on Athletic’s books after Dean Bouzanis and first-choice stopper Alex Cisak.

Bringing in such young prospects is a route Taggart says the club is likely to go down again this summer.

To balance that, boss Paul Dickov’s assistant is as delighted to have re-signed experienced forward Robbie Simpson earlier this week as he was to bring back James Wesolowski.

“Jimbo (Wesolowski) and Robbie Simpson are two players we really wanted to sign and we have managed to do that,” said Taggart.

“And we now have the two we really wanted to sign, so we can build around that.”

News is still awaited on the fate of out-of-contract trio Filipe Morais, Bradley Diallo and Yousoouf Mchangama, all of whom have been offered new deals to stay at Boundary Park.

There is also no confirmation as yet as to whether Shefki Kuqi will elect to take up his option to stay.





ATHLETIC have confirmed a home friendly with npower Championship club Birmingham City on Tuesday, July 31 (7.45pm kick-off).

Admission is £10 for adults and £5 for over-65s and under-16s and it will be pay on the turnstiles with no tickets available in advance. Blues fans will be in the large section of the Rochdale Road Stand.






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