Latics look for help to halt sinking feeling

Latics fans Jeanette Brazil and Jack Howarth her carer, negotiate the car park

CASH-STRAPPED Oldham Athletic are looking for volunteer builders to repair the car park.

Jeanette Brazil, a supporter for 20 years, uses a wheelchair and says the blue badge area of the former Lookers Stand car park is a “disgrace.” The football fanatic, who stumped up £700 for a roof over Boundary Park’s disabled seating area shortly before it burned down last August, reckons she has to be manoeuvred around at least seven large potholes during the 50-yard trip from her car to her seat in the ground.

But club officials say they simply cannot afford to have the area repaired, when there is a possibility they may have to move grounds.

Jeanette, who travels to every home game from Blackpool, said: “The ground isn’t even suitable for able-bodied people to walk on.

“There is pothole after pothole, it’s so uneven and I’ve seen so many people having difficulties. There is an accident waiting to happen. Maybe there are local builders who could help us — it would be really appreciated!”

Chief executive Alan Hardy said the club would gratefully receive offers of help. He said: “We continually have problems with potholes and we do have an improvement programme in place to repair them but with the amount of bad weather we have had recently, it is a massive job to keep on top of it all.

“Money is a major issue — we’re trying to spend all the money we can on keeping the club in existence and giving the manger cash to spend on a team that’s challenging for promotion.

If any local building firms are willing to help fix the club’s disabled parking area, they can contact the club on 0161-624 4972.