I nearly resigned earlier — Dickov

PAUL Dickov considered quitting as Athletic manager when his aides were dropped on New Year’s Eve.

Dickov, who resigned following the defeat at Walsall last week, said he stayed after the loss of Gerry Taggart, Paul Butler and Lee Duxbury because he was determined to put results right.

But after an eighth league defeat in nine matches, he felt his time was up.

“Looking back, New Year’s Eve might have been the right time to step aside,” said Dickov.

“But I’m not a quitter and I wanted to make a success of it. Athletic were fantastic to me.

“Unfortunately, results didn’t go the way we wanted them to and little bits off the pitch didn't go the way we wanted them to.

“I sat down with Simon last Sunday and decided for the good of myself and for Oldham to step aside.”

Dickov’s last successful act as Athletic boss was in seeing off Liverpool in sensational fashion in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

This Saturday, he will be back at Boundary Park as a studio guest of live broadcasters ITV — to see if the side can pull off another shock by beating Everton, which would put them in the quarter-finals for the first time since 1994.

“I am desperate for them to win against Everton,” he added. “There will be a bit of sadness there but also relief as well. My blood pressure won’t be going through the roof.”