Latics manager Iain Dowie has warned that he could quit Boundary Park if he is forced to sell his star players due to the current financial turmoil. When asked he said, “I’m here to build a club, not take one apart. If I’m forced to sellplayers, I will have to look seriously at my own situation. If I’m in control of these things, that’s different. But if I’m forced, it would be destroying what I want to build. Everybody knows that fans come here to watch our best players
and that those players are the club’s best chance of success. I find it hard to reconcile selling them with the fact that we are trying to build something here and win promotion. I’m enjoying my time here and it was Chris Moore who gave me my opportunity. We had long discussions when I took over and, although there was no indication that all this would happen. I fully understand his situation. Cuts need to be made and the club has to be run on a sound financial footing. But I don’t want to see the heart ripped out of my team.”
Centre-back Fitz Hall (pictured) has already been attracting the attention of a host of top clubs, including Liverpool, Blackburn and Middlesbrough. Hall who cost Athletic just £20,000 earlier this year and is now rated at around £2million. Another player who could bring in substantial money is full back Chris Armstrong. He was the most expensive teenager in Athletic’s history when he signed for £250,000 from Bury last season and his value has multiplied several times since. Athletic currently have eight players on offer as free transfers in a bid to cut the wage bill but there have not been any offers as yet. It is expected that players and officials will opt for salary cuts in an effort to curb the current losses.