Iain Dowie could be forced to quit as Athletic manager if the resignation of Chris Moore means that more cutbacks to his coaching staff could be necessary. David Cross (assistant manager) and Bill Urmson (youth-team coach) were both made redundant last month and John Harbin and Tony Philliskirk will be out of contract in the summer. Moore has been paying £200,000 per month out of his own pocket to keep the club afloat. Dowie, who’s own contract runs out soon, said, “The chairman resigning has got to be bad news. I’m as much in the dark as anyone else, but we had a good working relationship and I’m very disappointed. What worries me most is losing key personnel — and if that happens I will look at my own situation very closely. What do I say to John Harbin if he tells me there’s another job waiting for him elsewhere? This is a difficult position at an important time. I understand the chairman’s reasons because he has family issues and business concerns to think about. I’d be anxious myself if I had so much money in the club, but the timing of all this is difficult to swallow.”