Latics clearout backroom staff

ATHLETIC have made sweeping changes to the club's backroom staff, with assistant manager Gerry Taggart, head of sports science Paul Butler and reserve-team boss Lee Duxbury all leaving the club this morning.

The trio have been placed on gardening leave by the Boundary Park board, after a weekend spent in discussions with manager Paul Dickov concerning the team's poor form.

The manager is safe, though.

Goalkeeping coach Paul Gerrard will assist him for the time being — starting at Scunthorpe tomorrow — and his future role will be considered at a later date, according to a statement released by the club this morning.

"The board is concerned with the bad run of results and understands the frustration of fans to the point where it realised that positive action needs to be taken," the statement reads.

Chairman Simon Corney said: "We appointed Paul Dickov in June, 2010, and it has been a vast learning curve for him. He has received mine and the board's support along the way because we believe that we have the right man on board.

"However, in recent times we, as a board, are unanimous in the belief that the chemistry of our backroom team and coaches is not right and this has been discussed with Paul in depth.

"I thank those members of staff who are leaving for their commitment and support in the past, but believe that changes are necessary for the good of the club."

Taggart and Butler had been members of Dickov's staff right from the start of his appointment, while former Athletic midfielder Duxbury has spent the last six years on the coaching team.