Porter saga concluded

TTA have brought everything out into the open regarding the Chris Porter saga after admitting that it is a done deal that the 23 year old will sign for Motherwell sometime this week. There was an air of cynicism as they confessed their disatisfaction with the whole affair on the official website. Porter had repeatedly told Simon Corney that we would not be leaving Boundary Park and that he was going to repay the faith shown in him by staying at the club. The club have pumped thousands of pounds on treatment and specialists over the last two years, and in that time have the player has made just 60 starts from the 106 possible.

Porter has suffered with patella tendon opathy and Ilio-tibial-band friction syndrome over his spell at Athletic and has been in a position where he needed injections before games to enable him to play. The injuries may be responsible for the many Championship teams not following up their interests over the last few months of speculatuion over his immediate future.

The club were always aware that they would receive no compensation if Porter was to move north of the border, but it was his insistance that he would stay that has upset the Latics officials the most. It was thought that a deal would be accepted earlier in the year but this was quashed after Porter's agent demanded more after the January transfer window had closed.

With the club now resigned to the inevitable, they wish to close this dosier and concentrate on building the team for a serious promotion challege which will begin in earnest next month. Onwards and upwards!