Player and Staff Futures

Before the season ended changes in the playing staff had already begun with Calvin Zola and Kieran Westwood being sent back to their clubs Newcastle United and Manchester City. Youngsters Carlos Roca and Craig Fleming were told that they wouldn’t be getting a new contract in the summer and will leave the club. Dean Crowe was also released just before the game with Notts County after failing to make a good enough impression on the first team.

On Monday contract talks began in earnest with the management and six players agreeing to extend their contracts for another season as they had the option to do so. Ernie Cooksey, Danny Hall, Adam Griffin, Wes Wilkinson, Marc Tierney and Danny Forde were the players signed up for another season.

On Wednesday Danny Boshell has also had the option of an extra year on his contract accepted but goalkeeper Steve Corry has been released.

Les Pogliacomi, Will Haining, Paul Murray and Mark Bonner have all been offered new deals, they all have deadlines attached to them which they must decided whether to stay or not. It is unclear when these dates are apart from Pogliacomi who must agree a contract by the 25^th May or leave the club.

Paul Murray is looking the most likely to leave the club with a move to a Portugese club rumoured. Les Pogliacomi and Mark Bonner are thought to have other offersbut may find that their futures are best here at Latics. Will Haining is expected to sign his new contract.

This leaves the futures of Darren Sheridan, Jermaine Johnson and David Eyres in the balance. A board meeting was due to take place today (Wednesday) so maybe the fates of these players have already been decided, we should know more soon.

So far here is who is contracted to the club:

June 2005

Dean Holden
John Eyre
Matty Appleby
Michael Clegg
Scott Vernon
David Beherall
Ernie Cooksey
Danny Hall
Adam Griffin
Wes Wilkinson
Marc Tierney
Danny Forde

June 2006

Chris Killen

That’s 13 players contracted at the moment, another 7 players contracts to be decided. Players who have come from the Youth Team Chris Grange, Kelvin Lomax, Ashley Winn, Christopher Hall, Matthew Wolfenden, Matty Barlow and Rob Walker are all expected to be on YTS terms with the club and will drop out of the first team squad for next season.

Brian Talbot will be looking to bring some players in. From what I’ve heard he is looking to sign SEVEN players in the summer to bolster the squad. He has been linked with players such as Paul Heffernan, Rodney Jack, Lee Peacock, Steve McPhee and Gareth Owen so far.

Talbot is also going to search for new backroom staff for the club. John Sheridan should stay on as his First Team Coach and second in command. Tony Philliskirk will carry on his good work with the Youth Team. He might be looking for a new Goalkeeping Coach as current coach Stuart Naylor was only to stay until the end of the season, if he becomes a permanent member of staff then he’ll have to move up from Bristol. A new Physiotherapist will be needed also as Dave Kershaw has left the club to concentrate on another field of medience. Long time servant of the club Martin Ogden won’t be kit manager next season after his main work commitments are now too great for him to carry on at Oldham. Talbot is also looking to appoint a new Chief Scout.

It’s going to be an interesting summer at Boundary Park!