Welcome to today's issue of 
BOUNDARY BULLET-zine
 
The Daily On-line e-zine for 166 Oldham Athletic Supporters Worldwide
 
Today's Edition for
 
    13th April 2000    
 
 
Today's Headlines
 Oldham Evening Chronicle 
Sheridan and Rickers miss rest of season

ATHLETIC'S midfield will be without John Sheridan and Paul Rickers for the rest of the season. Sheridan damaged ankle ligaments in Tuesday's league victory over Wigan, while Rickers is to have a hernia operation on Monday. The influential Sheridan (36) received a hefty blow on the ankle against Wigan and soldiered on before being substituted in injury time. An X-ray yesterday revealed no fracture, but ligament damage. Sheridan, who is currently using crutches, is likely to be out for at least a fortnight, and possibly longer, so there is no chance of him playing again this season. It is the same for Rickers (24), who has an operation on Monday. The pain has steadily got worse and, with Athletic now free from the threat of relegation, manager Andy Ritchie says there is no point in delaying surgery. It means Rickers will have to wait until next season before clocking up his 200th league appearance — he is currently on 199. 

The absence of Sheridan and Rickers is likely to provide new opportunities for youngsters Phil Salt, Danny Boshell and Mark Innes to stake claims for regular places. Central defender Shaun Garnett is still waiting for the result of a scan on the knee he injured in last Saturday's defeat at Bournemouth. Tonight's reserve-team match against Grimsby Town was subject to a 1 pm Boundary Park pitch inspection. The signs did not look good after the heavy rain of the last 36 hours. Team (from): Miskelly, Thom, Futcher, McLaughlin, Smith, Roberts, Salt, Boshell, Wharton, Sugden, Walsh, Gardiner, Robertson, Froggatt, Oliver, Rock, Hall. Athletic will play Manchester United in the final of the Manchester Senior Cup, a reserve-team competition, on Tuesday, May 2 (7 pm) at Boundary Park.

Taylor is new number two on Latics’ board

CHAIRMAN David Brierley has restructured the Oldham Athletic board of directors, elevating Derek Taylor to vice-chairman. Mr Taylor replaces Ian Stott, who was chairman for 17 years before stepping down to No 2 when Mr Brierley became chairman in January, 1999. Mr Taylor, Mr Brierley and another director, Peter Chadwick, bought a controlling interest in the club last November. A retired director of the Halifax Building Society, Mr Taylor (59) will take charge of the club’s financial affairs, assisted by director John Slevin. Mr Stott stays on the board with responsibilities for matters relating to the Football League and Football Association. In addition, he will continue to be involved with Athletic’s youth development programme. Mr Stott resigned from the chair in January, 1999 and became vice-chairman, although his involvement in the day-to-day running of the club has been significantly reduced in the past 15 months. 

There are new jobs for two other directors as part of the boardroom shuffle. Mr Chadwick assumes control of commercial and ground matters and will also play a leading role in the possible development of a new stadium. He will be assisted by director Norman Holden. Mr Brierley retains control of all footballing matters and will work on a daily basis with manager Andy Ritchie, as well as working closely with the manager on the youth development programme. The new owners have been evaluating the club’s position since taking control of the majority shareholding from brewers J W Lees. The changes are the culmination of a new management direction, introduced by Mr Brierley. Mr Brierley said: We shall have a more hands-on management team than was the case previously, with all the working directors closely involved in the day-to-day operation of the club."

 Teamtalk Oldham 
Leeds link-up discussions

 Football league bosses are meeting tonight to investigate Oldham's proposed joint venture with the Premiership Leeds United. In a ground-breaking move earlier this month the two clubs announced a deal which would also see the Yorkshire outfit buy a 9.9 per cent stake in the Latics. Leeds would also pay around one million pounds to help fund Boundary Park's Centre of Excellence, over the next five years. In return Leeds would have first pick of the stars of the future. The pioneering move was revealed earlier this month but the Football league was angry at not having been consulted originally and have pointed out that it could veto the plans. The outcome of tonight's meeting will be anxiously awaited by many lower division clubs who believe such partnerships could provide a financial life line for them. Latics chairman David Brierley recognises that the Leeds influence, in terms of the loan of top quality players, could present a route back to the Premiership: "We don't have much money but we have plenty of ambition. We have tasted life in the Premiership once and we want to do it again."  An important aspect of such a partnership being forged is that Leeds would be able to spread the club's youth net across Greater Manchester, Merseyside and into North Wales. Under current rules players under the age of fourteen must live within 90 minutes driving distance of the Centre of Excellence or Academy.

Boardroom shake-up
 Six months after buying out major shareholders J W Lees Brewery the Latics new owners have been given new roles. Director Derek Taylor now takes over as vice-chairman with Ian Stott stepping down, and he will take charge of all financial matters at the club. Former chairman Stott will handle all affairs concerned with the Football League and the Football Association. Taylor's fellow director John Chadwick will take over ground and commercial matters.  Chairman David Brierley, who will work on a daily basis with manager Andy Ritchie, explained: "It will give us a more hands-on management team with all the directors closely involved in the day-to-day operation of the club."

Latics reserves rained off


 Oldham's reserve fixture at Boundary Park against Grimsby tonight has been called off. The incessant rain has again left the Boundary Park pitch waterlogged and no new date for the fixture has been arranged as yet. The Latics first team have a blank weekend having brought Saturday's scheduled fixture forward because opponents Stoke are in the finals of the Auto Windscreen Shield. Boss Andy Ritchie, who has a number of injury worries is not too concerned and said: "It is a good chance to rest and get rid of some of our aches and pains."
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