Latics boss Lee Johnson believes that Liam Kelly has all it takes to become a great player for the club. Kelly has recently come under fire from some of the supporters but he fits the category of player that Athletic can sign ie. He's looking to rebuild his career and does not demand top wages.
Johnson said, “At the moment, we are a home for the unloved. You have to take someone like Liam, who needs a bit of time. He will come good, as he is a top player and I have 100% faith in him. This is us. It’s where we are and we may as well embrace it. People might as well know it, then we can have 4,000 scouts rather than just me!”
“With so much riding on their careers there are players who simply don’t want to risk coming to play at Boundary Park. Sometimes they feel safer in their nice environment. It is fear of failure, not only for the players but their advisors. They could have someone in their reserves worth £250,000 to a foreign club, but play four games for Oldham and struggle and all of a sudden they have no value.”