Player merry-go-round starts
Last updated : 09 May 2005 By The Chairman
Athletic’s last-gasp survival in League One which culminated last Saturday by avoiding the drop by one point, makes no difference to Ronnie Moore’s team building plans for next season. Moore said, “I know each and every player now, and offers have already been made to some of them. A lot are coming out of contract in the next few weeks, but there are one or two who think they are Premiership players! This club won’t give them the money they are looking for. I would have made rapid changes no matter which division we were in next season, and staying up has given us a bit of financial leeway. Some of these lads will definitely be leaving, that’s for sure, and I wouldn’t bank on a quiet summer.”
Rodney Jack and John Eyre have already gone and Wes Wilkinson and Danny Boshell have been told that their contracts will not be renewed. Players who have already been offered are Stefan Stam, David Eyres, Scott Vernon and Mark Hughes and Moore is hopeful of keeping on loan Luke Beckett (pictured) and Gareth Owen. Talks are underway with the agents of Dean Holden, Kevin Betsy, Jermaine Johnson and Amadou Sanokho. The manager has already stated that he wants to build a squad of around 25 professionals for next season and he went on, “It’s just a matter of time on who comes in because we need more quality if we are going to do better next season. The current group of players have worked hard, but I want to find the right blend and I’m not afraid to make decisions.”