Late bid may save Latics

Last updated : 19 June 2003 By The Chairman

An unrevealed source has put in a seven figure bid for the club in an attempt to save the future of Oldham Athletic Football Club. Manager Iain Dowie said, “It is a 'realistic and sensible offer' and we are keen to get things moving as soon as possible. I am concerned that our well-planned preparations could fall into further disarray as the deal is prolonged. I, like the team and members of staff at Boundary Park, would like this matter to be resolved as soon as humanly possible.”

Chris Moore (pictured) has returned from holiday and will listen to the offer, one which the mystery northern based rescuers are “quietly confident” of being accepted. It is thought that Mr. Moore will lose most of his 95 per cent ownership of the club but the deal would ensure that Athletic’s debts would be paid off. The ex-Chairman has around £4 million currently loaned to Athletic.

PFK, the business experts currently advising the club, will negotiate the offer and a Latics spokesman said, “The investors are feeling positive because they think this deal is a compromise for both sides. They are quietly confident. Chris Moore would probably have to sacrifice his loan, but if we went out of business he would lose it anyway. Although there are debts which need paying off, the club might even start next season with a financial clean sheet. But details don’t really matter to most people — the important thing is we’re moving closer to survival.”

The deal also requires that a new Chairman be appointed who will look after the day to day running of the club, and hopefully sort of the current mess of staff wages which are due to be paid on June 27th. Anything to stop an exodus of Athletic’s top players walking away from the club will please the troubled supporters of the club. The Supporters Association chairman Dave Cunningham commented, “We can’t take anything for granted after what has happened over the last few weeks. But hearing that we’ve moved forward, if only slightly, has put a smile on my face. A lot of people have been in deep depression because losing Latics would have a massive impact on the town as a whole. Latics don’t truly belong to Chris Moore, even though he owns so much of the club. They belong to the fans and let’s keep everything crossed that we can get through this soon.”