Offer on table for Byrne

LEE HUGHES . . . subject of rumours regarding a return to Boundary Park.

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Preston join the chase... and Latics dispel Hughes rumours

ATHLETIC are waiting on an answer from experienced defender Cliff Byrne.

"We have made Cliff an offer and he is thinking it over," confirmed Athletic manager Paul Dickov, who sees the former Scunthorpe right-back or centre-half's qualities as a perfect fit.

Athletic face competition for the out-of-contract Dubliner, who plays in his own benefit match at Scunthorpe's Glanford Park on Sunday. npower League One rivals Preston North End are also interested in the player.

With obvious gaps in the Athletic squad to fill, the 30 year old won't be allowed much time to make a decision to accept Oldham’s offer.

One player unlikely to be coming back to Boundary Park, though, is Lee Hughes. The Notts County man (36), under contract at Meadow Lane for another season, had been rumoured to be close to a return to Athletic to solve the striker problem. Dickov’s response couldn’t be clearer: "There is nothing in that," he said.






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