Tarkowski to stay for two more years

Sidney Schmeltz gets a warm welcome from Athletic boss Lee Johnson.

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JAMES Tarkowski has signed a new deal to remain an Athletic player until the summer of 2015.

The 20-year-old defender enjoyed a breakthrough season this year, making 26 appearances and scoring twice.

Tarkowski, from New Moston, had admirers at other clubs but has now committed himself to Oldham.

Athletic believe they are carefully building a squad with some potential for next season.

The signing of Dutch winger Sidney Schmeltz, as revealed by the Chronicle yesterday, means that all three new men brought in so far by manager Lee Johnson fit the profile of being quick, attack-minded players who are under the age of 25.

“We are happy with the way things are going,” said a Boundary Park source. “The squad is coming together well.”

The club have been at pains to point out that the acquisition of Schmeltz on a two-year deal—subject to the formality of international clearance being granted — is not simply a shot in the dark on Johnson’s behalf.

The manager has met with the former SC Veendam flyer and conducted background checks and believes he is the right type of character to achieve success on his first venture outside his Netherlands homeland.

“Sidney is the perfect character and just the sort of player we are after,”said Johnson, on his  third new capture following on from Jonson Clarke-Harris and James Dayton.
He is expected to arrive at the club next week.

Johnson, meanwhile, is set to take in the FIFA Under-20 World Cup, which starts a week tomorrow in Turkey.