Simon Corney recently publicly criticised the work that John Sheridan and Tommy Wright (pictured) have been involved with on Latics World and the Latics management team have hit back. Club joint-owner Corney questioned the preparations for the hugely disappointing 2-0 home defeat inflicted by Yeovil, and he also hit out at the commitment of captain Sean Gregan and striker Lee Hughes.The comments came as a culmination to several recent disappointing results, Athletic have won only two of their last nine league games, although the fight-back at Cheltenham which earned the team an FA Cup replay was a commendable result, being that they were two goals down at half time after a torrid display.
Assistant manager Tommy Wright has described the verbal assault by Corney as "way out of order" and retorted, "It has been a trying time for everyone because things have been said which shouldn't have been said. There has been a lot of negativity around the place and you've got to remember we are seventh in the league. The players don't deserve this criticism. Me and John feel like we are bottom of the league. With everyone that has gone on, it feels like we are adrift. There have been grumblings in the dressing room and, to be honest, it wasn't easy to lift the players."
"The Yeovil game was disappointing and I know we've had a bad run, but it's a long season and we'll have our ups and downs. There has been a negative feeling because a lot of the lads saw the interview and those things shouldn't have been said. There's no need for it, especially before a cup tie and when you are only just off the automatic promotion places. Me and John are positive that if everyone sticks together we've got a chance of promotion. It's very disappointing and way out of order."