Simpson hasn’t ruled out Latics comeback

ATHLETIC have unveiled their new intake of scholars: pictured with club chairman Simon Corney (front, left) and Lee Johnson (front, right) are Callum Etches, Jordache Walters, Ryan Ellison, Jack Touhy, Paul Tyson, Ben Grant, Eddie Fulwood, Emil Tansinda and Ellis Gordon. Absent is Danny Byrnes.

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THERE is still a slim chance that Robbie Simpson ill still be a Latics player next season.

But for now at least, the player has said goodbye to the club due to its smaller playing budget for next year.

With goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis, Simpson is the big name on the club’s new list of players whose registration hasn’t been retained.

The other unlucky men are Connor Hughes, Liam Jacob and Dan Taylor.

“The manager made me captain and he told me he would love for me to stay,” explained Nottingham Forest FA Cup hero Simpson, who feels his form this season was severely hampered by injury.

“The budget being what it is, it isn’t possible to offer me a competitive deal. The door is being left open though and if for any reason there is nothing on the table for me, I could come back.

“On the balance of probabilities I probably won’t be an Oldham Athletic player next season. But these are difficult times and there will be an awful lot of unattached players. It could end up that I return — but it is unlikely.”

Ex-Huddersfield man Simpson (27) impressed manager Lee Johnson enough to be named skipper for recent games against Bury, Yeovil and Crawley — three games won by Athletic to ensure success in the battle against relegation.

“Robbie has been fantastic for me,” said Johnson. “But we have to trim the squad. I would not close the door forever, but it is right for him to go and look for an opportunity elsewhere.”

The release of Bouzanis is a surprise, given the Aussie goalkeeper won his place as number one this term from Alex Cisak.

The 22 year old was disciplined for an unspecified offence earlier this season, missing the Sheffield United home game as a result. Johnson hinted that there were considerations other than purely football behind the decision.

The manager added: “It was a tough one with Dean. He is a good goalkeeper and a good guy. Sometimes there are things that happen outside the public domain as well as things that are made public.

“Dean still has a lot to learn. He has the attributes to be a top ’keeper and he deserves to go somewhere where he can be the number one.”






STAYING: Glenn Belezika, Connor Brown, Cliff Byrne

OFFERS MADE: David Mellor, Kirk Millar, James Tarkowski, Carl Winchester

RELEASED: Dean Bouzanis, Connor Hughes, Liam Jacob, Robbie Simpson, Dan Taylor

DISCUSSIONS ONGOING: Lee Croft, Alex Cisak, Jean-Yves Mvoto, Matt Smith