Latics sign Mildenhall

Including those on trial, since the beginning of last season there has been an ongoing search for a second choice stopper. I make Steve Mildenhall the eighth player now. That figure does not include trainees like Charlie Treacy, but does include trialists who didn't actually sign permanent deals with Athletic. For the record the eight names are Steve Corry, Kieran Westwood, Kelvin Jack, Dino Semeret, Craig Mawson, Bertrand Bossu and now Mildenhall.

But the search should have stopped for at least until summer 2005, because Mildenhall has signed for Oldham for the rest of this season. That means he has bags of time to earn himself a new contract for the 2005/6 season.

Steve Mildenhall has had his contract at Notts County terminated by mutual consent. He was one of the highest earners at County, and took a substantial pay cut to join Athletic. Mildenhall appears to be the answer to Brian Talbot's dreams - he is experienced with 104 League starts, and is happy to be a back-up keeper to Les. Let's hope he has a happy and successful career at Boundary Park.