New manager pumped for success

Last updated : 05 May 2009 By The Chairman
New Latics manager Dave Penney is looking forward to the challenge of making Athletic a force to be reckoned with. The ex-Darlington boss is 44 years old and has signed a two year deal at Boundary Park. Penney said, "The main aim is to build a successful team which is attractive to watch. This club has tradition and is a proper footballing club and I want to be successful at this level again. Athletic have been there or thereabouts in the last three seasons, and we have to try to build on that."

There will be changes in players and personnel on and off the field and it is a case of building the team I want. When you look at the three teams coming down - Charlton, Southampton and possibly Norwich, they were all in the Premier League until fairly recently. Then you have the teams in the play-off places who don't go up and the likes of Huddersfield who are going to give it a good go. It will be a really tough division. I wouldn't like to make any promises where we will end up, but we will give it a really good go."