Arber finally signs

Last updated : 08 June 2004 By The Chairman

Mark Arber has finally signed for the Latics after passing his medical. The defender was offered improved terms and the captains job by Peterborough in an attempt to keep him at London Road but he decided to sign a deal which would keep him at Boundary Park for the next two seasons.

Arber said of the offer, “If Barry had offered me the same deal six months ago that he offered me at the end of the season I would have signed, but it was too little too late. I felt Barry's improved offer was only made as a reaction to the fact someone else wanted to sign me. I owe Barry an awful lot, he took a gamble on me and rescued me from non-league football when I was at Barnet. At first, some people were wondering why Barry had signed a player from the Conference League, but I established myself and showed I could play at this level.”

“He then offered me the best deal the club could afford, probably better than any other out-of-contract player, but joining Oldham seemed the right move as I think their manager Brian Talbot will turn me into a better player. Brian has tried numerous times to sign me in the last 18 months, firstly when he was manager at Rushden, and now I will finally play for him at Oldham. I am disappointed I didn't get the opportunity to join a club at a higher level because I believe I am good enough, but if I do the business at Oldham bigger clubs may take notice.”

“There are 22 league clubs within an hour of Oldham, so I'm sure there will be plenty of scouts watching their matches, but first of all I want to do well for them. I played consistently well for Posh and always gave my all – but I'll settle for a draw when we come to London Road next season!”

The ink was hardly dry on Arber’s contract before he was called up to represent South Africa as they prepare for the 2006 World Cup and African Cup of Nations qualifiers. It is Arbers first International call up and he will join the squad in Bafana Bafana which means he will miss the start of the Latics pre-season build up.