Corney blasts players

SIMON Corney pointed the finger of blame for Paul Dickov’s departure from the club squarely at Athletic’s players.

The chairman feels 40-year-old Dickov has been let down this season by a team that one week defeats Liverpool in the FA Cup and the next loses at Walsall in npower League One.

“Arguably, my best day involved with Latics was last week (against Liverpool) and a week later, I am parting company with the guy who gave me that day,” Corney said on BBC Radio Manchester.

“I truly believe that Paul will go on to be a top manager, I really do. A combination of factors worked against him here.

“I feel he has been let down by the players. The team that performed so well against Liverpool — where were they?

“I want to stay in this division. It is more important than beating Liverpool.

“And I want to see effort from the players. I think they have a lot to answer for.”

Dickov told Corney yesterday that he felt he could no longer continue in his role as Athletic manager after two-and-a-half years at the club.

“Paul phoned me up and said it is just not fair to carry on, that he didn’t want to take the club any further down and that things were just not working out,” added Corney.

“How classy is that? I have had many managers depart, but none have acted with the dignity that Paul has shown.”