New striker signs

Last updated : 30 May 2008 By The Chairman

Athletic have signed Rotherham United striker Chris O'Grady on a contract that will keep him at Oldham until 2010. The Latics paid a reputed £30,000 for the 22 year old who ended up as Rotherham's joint top scorer last season. O'Grady is 6'-1" tall and he scored 11 goals for Rotherham in a season where they finished ninth in League Two after going into administration and being deducted 10 points. O'Grady admirred to "holding out" for a move to Boundary Park after other clubs had showed interest.

He commented, "Basically when Rotherham went into administration the opportunity came along to leave because we weren't being paid, and I've basically known of Oldham's interest since then. I could have gone to another League One club but that move wasn't right for me or my family. I was holding out for Oldham. I'm glad to be able to move up a level and join a big club like Oldham. Coming in and seeing the setup today is just making me more and more excited about it."

"I have got a physical build and I can play that kind of game if neccessary, but I want people to know I can do more than that. I'm big but I can move as well. I'm coming here looking to build on last season, where I scored 11 goals and was involved every week. My aim is to score more goals here and experience some success as a team as well as individually. Working with strikers like Craig Davies and Lee Hughes will be good for me and I'm looking forward to testing myself and showing everyone what I can do."

"It was difficult at Rotherham because people weren't being paid and I had never encountered that situation before. We were given the choice between a wage deferral or eventually moving elsewhere, so once Oldham showed an interest I knew what I wanted. It was difficult and I was made to train with the youth team. It's quite ironic that you are being punished for the way the club is run, but you try to make the best of it. Now I'm just looking forward to next season because I want to show the fans what I can do and hopefully help the team have some success. I want to improve on the 11 goals I scored last season and I'm happy to be moving up a division as well. I took a step down from Leicester to Rotherham because sometimes that's the way to start moving up again, but League Two wasn't the level I wanted to be at. And I'm pleased to hear Oldham are a footballing team. I'm a football person and I wouldn't want to be in a side who play dirty to win."