Latics owner Simon Corney has described last week's 0-0 draw with Tranmere as the "worst performance I have ever seen." Corney has now confessed that he sees Athletic's run in as a relegation dog-fight. The gate of 3,688 was critical of the team and Corney admits that he shares the fans' pain. He said, "It was awful. I feel awful. That was the worst I have ever seen since we came here and I never thought this would happen but I am nervous about relegation now."
"With the exception of Sean Gregan, who has been immense this season, and Reuben Hazell, I can't praise any of them. On Wednesday we had things like five-yard passes going wrong and you have to ask where the urgency was. Where was the quality? A lot of these players were here last season and that didn't happen. Some of them need to realise that if they don't get their act together they will be playing in League Two."
Corney put the record straight about the playing budget too. He dismissed claims that the current manager was working on a smaller budget than John Sheridan. He said, "I can categorically say that, given the money we've spent on players this season, it's higher. There are teams with bigger budgets in the division, but it's certainly not a bottom-four budget. I still have confidence in Dave and he still has my support. He's a decent, hard-working guy and I think he can turn it around. But it needs to happen soon."