Iain Dowie is in big trouble at Boundary Park after his outburst following the sale of Chris Armstrong. An incensed Dowie accused Sean Jarvis and club accountant Neil Joy of “feathering their own nests” and claimed that Jarvis and Joy were acting in “self-interest” during Athletic’s survival battle. He also suggested that senior officials were trying to “force him out”. Dowie said, “If they want a fight, let’s fight.” Dowie in big trouble
Iain Dowie is in big trouble at Boundary Park after his outburst following the sale of Chris Armstrong. An incensed Dowie accused Sean Jarvis and club accountant Neil Joy of “feathering their own nests” and claimed that Jarvis and Joy were acting in “self-interest” during Athletic’s survival battle. He also suggested that senior officials were trying to “force him out”. Dowie said, “If they want a fight, let’s fight.” Club owner Chris Moore, who has been silent since the crumbling of Boundary Park began, described the comments as absolutely despicable and said, “The directors are looking closely at Iain Dowie’s comments – they are considering his conduct as a representative of the club. I find it astonishing that he would say these things. They are totally inappropriate, totally untrue and he must learn to control his emotions. If I was advising the directors on thisinvestigation – which I’m not – I would advise them to withdraw Dowie’s contract which was recently offered. The suggestion that Sean Jarvis and Neil Joy are trying to feather their own nests is utterly absurd. They are not trying to win control and they have been working 18-hour days to pull finance together for Oldham Athletic and the supporters, who will ultimately own the club. There have been plenty of times before when I could have spoken out against Iain Dowie’s comments, but I prefer not to wash my dirty linen in public. The directors were very alarmed by what he said. It’s up to them, but I know what I would do.”
Sean Jarvis said: “I have great respect for Iain Dowie as an excellent manager and I understand his emotions are running high. The same goes for all of us at the moment and anything happening at board level is nothing to do with me. We all need to pull together and find a resolution which will save the club.”
Dowie had been given no say in Armstrong’s move to Sheffield United. The Blades paid a miserly £100,000, plus £45,000 on appearances, for one of the Latics key players. Armstrong cost twice that amount and has matured to be 10 timed the player during his time at Athletic.
Dowie commented, “What’s the point of trying to save a club when you are breaking up its only asset? Selling Chris Armstrong for a pittance is utterly ridiculous and bringing in a director (Paul Thompson) to sign the forms when he has no active role in the club is no way to do business.”
Dowie has always warned he could quit if his crown jewels were sold and it is common knowledge that he doesn’t hit it off with Chris Moore. Moore negotiated Armstrong’s move even though he no longer sits on the board.