Standing firm

Lee Croft: Latics want him, but if he and Mvoto don’t stay it’s not the end of the world, says Lee Johnson.

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ATHLETIC will not budge on contract offers made to Lee Croft and Jean-Yves Mvoto, with manager Lee Johnson warning that the pair may even be replaced while they ponder what is on the table.

Both players are currently mulling over deals while on holiday.

While Athletic would consider retaining their services for 2013-14 a major boost, Johnson — who yesterday revealed in the Chronicle that striker Matt Smith will be moving on — is in no mood to alter his budgetary plans in order to see off competition from the Championship.

Mvoto, in particular, is likely to become a man in demand. Doncaster were already interested in the imposing centre-back.

With the French defender’s former Athletic boss Paul Dickov now on board, the Championship club could offer a deal the Boundary Park side can’t match.

At the same time, though, Johnson emphasised that the former Sunderland stopper (24) is more than happy with life at the League One outfit.

“With Crofty, what you have this year is hundreds of right-sided midfielders available,” said Johnson, who is currently working on finalising a deal for a mystery player whose name he is keen does not enter the public domain.

“What there aren’t a lot of is number nines and centre-halves. Jean really wants to stay. But if someone in the Championship comes in for him and offers to pay him a lot more than us then it’s a different story.

“Of course, we would love to keep both of them. But if they don’t end up coming back, it isn’t the end of the world.

“They know what our offer is. I think they are biding their time, which is fine. But if someone comes along who I think is better I won’t hesitate. That’s the risk they run.

“We won’t break the bank to make it happen.”

Johnson played down talk of a swoop for Kilmarnock’s young striker Williams Gros, a player he admires but who is under contract and may require a hefty compensation fee.

Exeter’s well-travelled forward Jamie Cureton doesn’t fit the profile of player Johnson is looking for either, he says.

But Athletic’s manager would like to bring in Korey Smith, released by Norwich this week — though reckons it will be tough to achieve.

“I am talking to Korey, but whether we can get him or not is another story,” he added.


ATHLETIC are reminding supporters that they have until the cut-off date of Friday, May 31, to make big savings on season tickets for 2013-14.

mattchambers@oldham-chronicle.co.uk