Kuqi and Morais leave Latics

Photo: PICTURE by DARREN ROBINSON.

FIRST DAY BACK: Athletic’s players are put through their paces at training yesterday.

PAUL Dickov is confident he can bring in new players capable of filling the boots of departing duo Shefki Kuqi and Filipe Morais.

Both players are now free agents. Kuqi had been on a contract the club couldn’t afford to renew, given a reduced budget.

Though he had the option to stay, Dickov will now use part of the money freed by not having the Finnish star on the wage bill to bring in a new goal-poacher.

Morais, who started last season patchily, before growing into a increasingly reliable and hard-working winger, has had two offers from npower League One rivals which beat Athletic’s offer.

Despite losing two of his most influential men, Dickov believes they can and will be replaced.

"We would like to wish Shefki all the best, as without his goals last year we really would have struggled. We made a contract offer to Filipe and I believe he has turned that down. He has had two better offers and if that is the case then you have got to wish him all the best.

"Filipe was very good for us in the latter half of the season and I suppose you could say it was the other way around with Shefki.

"We would like to have kept them both, but it happens. We move on. We will try to get good players in to replace them."






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