Players will not be paid

The current financial crisis at Boundary Park means that all of their big guns can walk away from the club as Athletic have admitted that staff wages won’t be paid this month. This constitutes a breach of contract and all that the Professional Footballers Association insist on is that players give 14 days’ notice before cancelling their contracts.


This all adds more coal to the fire and the fear now is that Iain Dowie will follow through on his statement that he would leave if his promising young team is to be dismantled. Dowie said, “I’m no businessman, but it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realise how bad the situation is. When you’ve spent the last 12 months working as hard as we have, developing and building the club with good players, it is very upsetting. We’ve had record season-ticket sales and not since the halcyon days of Joe Royle has there been so much interest from fans, but they don’t know which players they’ll be watching next season. We’re up the creek without a paddle and other clubs will be looking at our squad very closely. There are pickings to be had.”


Stories are already abounding that Birmingham City and Sheffield United are being linked with Chris Armstrong. Leeds United are showing a distinct interest in Les Pogliacomi, and clubs are queueing up for the attention of Fitz Hall. Even Tranmere are getting in on the act as they are showing an interest in their ex-captain Clint Hill. Under all this Dowie is insisting that the future of Oldham Athletic is more important than any individual.