19th September 2000   

Owl's win tie

INJURY-HIT Athletic will bid for another Worthington Cup upset tonight when they take on the fallen giants of Sheffield Wednesday. Wednesday, who dropped out of the Premiership in May, are a side in turmoil after sliding into the division one relegation zone. They will be without star names such as Andy Hinchcliffe, Dutch international Wim Jonk and former Celtic midfielder Phil O'Donnell. Athletic — themselves without a win in seven league games — began their cup campaign by seeing off Huddersfield. But they must cope without four experienced players in the second-round, first-leg tie at Boundary Park. John  Sheridan and Shaun Garnett are still sidelined with a knee problem and broken hand respectively, while Paul Rickers has nine stitches in a leg wound.

The latest casualty is wing-back Neil Adams, who has tweaked knee ligaments and is also doubtful for the weekend trip to Bournemouth. Athletic did have some good news, however, when on-loan defender Chris Lightfoot was given the green light to play. Lightfoot's club, Crewe Alexandra, don't mind him becoming cup-tied, so he will keep his place at centre-half. Andrew Holt also expects to start after missing Saturday's draw with Bristol City because of a dead leg. That would release Mark Innes to cover for Rickers in midfield, while Craig Dudley could replace Adams on the right.

Midfield man Phil Salt is included in the squad for the first time this season. Wednesday have massive injury problems and were forced to blood three 18-year-olds in their midfield during Saturday's 2-0 reverse at Tranmere. Striker Richie Humphrey's has been playing at left-back and they must also find a new right-back as Robbie Stockdale, on loan from Middlesbrough, has been refused permission to play.

ATHLETIC (from): Kelly, Jones, Lightfoot, McNiven, Holt, Duxbury, Innes, Boshell, Corazzin, Allott, Dudley, Tipton, Prenderville, Hotte, Salt, Futcher, Miskelly.

WEDNESDAY (from): Pressman, Walker, Westwood, Quinn, Hamshaw, Geary, Humphreys, Morrison, Crane, Booth, De Bilde, Muller, Stringer, Nicolson, Sibon, Johansson, Di Piedi. 

Athletic have completed the signing of Canadian international defender Mark Watson on non-contract forms. Watson, who was with Oxford last season, will come into contention for Saturday's league game at Bournemouth.

THE sale of Boundary Park to property developers Hiretarget helped to wipe almost £2.5 million off Athletic’s debts. In the last financial year, the club made major financial strides and ended £717,780 — instead of last year’s £3.2million — in the red. The ground and its surrounding land were sold for just over £3million, yielding a profit of £1million when net book value and disposal costs were taken into account. And the annual balance sheet reveals they are paying £240,000 per year to rent Boundary Park from their new landlord, the partly Oldham Council-owned Hiretarget. Keeping up the same charge, Hiretarget will have got its money back within 13 years.

Athletic also made big inroads into their annual operating loss, which had stood at £1.38million in the previous 12 months. The figure — which is the most effective way of judging a company’s performance — was slashed by around a third to £847,000. Adding in the profit on the ground, that means they made a theoretical PROFIT of £95,421. The debts wipe that out several times over, but these have also been slashed dramatically. Last year, when they were £3.2million in the red, Athletic had a massive bank overdraft of £1.76million. Their overdraft is now only £58,000. They also had an outstanding bank loan of £688,000 which has since been paid off. The interest alone on those figures would have been crippling.

Now that Athletic no longer own their home, their only assets are the players. Chairman David Brierley, however, is pleased with the club’s overall progress. “The financial results for the year to May 31 show a significant improvement,” Mr Brierley said. “There is a reduction in the operating loss in excess of £500,000, but there is still plenty of scope for improvement, which is receiving constant attention by our financial team.” Unusually, Athletic didn’t make a single penny on selling players. But their strenuous efforts to reduce the squad, as well as make cuts behind the scenes, saw the wage bill drop by a quarter of a million. It now stands at a shade above £2million, despite overall staffing levels going up slightly. The shareholders’ annual general meeting will be held in the Boundary Park sponsors suite on Tuesday, October 10 (6.30pm)

ESPN Soccernet

Oldham Athletic hunt another major Worthington Cup scalp when they face struggling Sheffield Wednesday at Boundary Park. Wednesday, who were relegated from the Premiership last season, have made a poor start to life in the First Division and are second from bottom after seven games. But although Andy Ritchie's Latics have also struggled in Division Two the manager insists that league form will count for nothing in the cut and thrust of the second round first-leg tie. He said: "Wednesday have had a poor start - but we aren't exactly cracking any flags at the moment."

Oldham stunned Steve Bruce's Huddersfield in the last round with a 1-0 win at Boundary Park followed by a 2-0 success at the McAlpine Stadium and Ritchie is looking for a similar outcome, even though he believes that the Owls will provide a tougher test. He added: "We are not kidding ourselves about Wednesday. They were a Premiership side last season and are virtually a Premiership side now. "Their bad start means little at this stage of the season and it will be a tough test because we are not firing at the moment. "But the league counts for nothing - this is a cup game and we will go all out for another upset. "It will be a good night and hopefully we can get the right sort of result ahead of the second leg." Paul Rickers, who scored both goals in the 2-0 win at Huddersfield, is out with a gashed leg, while Shaun Garnett (broken hand) is also a casualty.

19:45 Kickoff
 Oldham Athletic: Kelly , Holt , Innes , McNiven , Jones , Boshell (Salt 70) , Duxbury , Corazzin , Dudley , Tipton (Allott 34) , Lightfoot (Prenderville 79)
Subs not used:  Miskelly , Hotte
Bookings:  Tipton 15,  

Sheffield Wednesday: Pressman , Geary , Walker , Westwood , Crane , Quinn , Hamshaw (Sibon 62) , Booth , De Bilde , Humphreys , Morrison
Subs not used:  Stringer , Nicholson , Johansson , Muller
Bookings:  Hamshaw 49,  Oldham were left with a mountain to climb to snatch any hope of Worthington Cup glory when they were beaten 3-1 by Sheffield Wednesday tonight.
The Latics cross the Pennines next Wednesday for the return leg for what looks to be a mission impossible.
The home side went in front when teenage midfielder Danny Boshell scored his first ever senior goal in the 20th minute.
However, Wednesday cancelled that out on 33 when another teenager, Owen Morrison, grabbed his first career goal, following a skilful and mazy run.
The visitors stepped up the pace after the break and duly took the lead in the 64th minute when Belgian international Gilles De Bilde turned superbly in the box, following a cross from substitute Gerald Sibon with his first touch after an inspired switch by Paul Jewell, before hitting home an angled shot.
The visitors piled on the agony for Oldham 20 minutes from the end when Ashley Westwood headed a killer third from six yards, to leave the Second Division side with an almost impossible task next week at Hillsborough.  

Injury headache for boss
Andrew Holt and Neil Adams face late fitness tests ahead of tonight's Cup match with Sheffield Wednesday, Paul Rickers is definitely out. As such injuries have left Andy Ritchie with a selection headache ahead of the second round, first leg Worthington Cup tie against Wednesday at Boundary Park. Holt, who missed last Saturday's goalless draw against Bristol Rovers with a dead leg, is again doubtful while Adams is due to take a late fitness test on a knee injury. Definitely out is midfielder Rickers - and he could be sidelined for a month. He was hurt making a tackle in the Bristol game when an opponent's studs ripped into his skin and he needed eight stitches in a gashed thigh and another in his knee. However loan signing Chris Lightfoot will be in the side after his club, Crewe, gave their permission. 
Ritchie said: "We are facing a few setbacks, but we will have to make the best of things and rely on other players to come through for us." Despite the growing injury list, the Latics boss remained confident they could progress in the competition. He insisted: "We have already knocked out one first division club in Huddersfield and if we can find that form again we will give Wednesday a game. They are struggling and not playing with a lot of confidence at the moment, but we won't make the mistake of under estimating them." Ritchie concluded: "They were a Premiership side last season and they have a lot of international players. League form can go out of the window in a cup match and we have to concentrate on our game and make sure we get it right."  
Fenton on trial
Former Portsmouth defender Anthony Fenton is poised for trials at Oldham after being released by Tony Pulis at the end of last season. Fenton had been having trials at Carlisle in the summer but was unable to earn himself a full time contract and was duly released. The former Manchester City defender is now hoping to impress Andy Ritchie enough to earn himself a move to Boundary Park. Preston born Fenton has a twin brother, Manchester City defender Nick, who is currently on loan at Notts County. 

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Ananova

Oldham 1 Sheff Wed 3

Sheffield Wednesday have one foot in the third round of the Worthington Cup after a comfortable 3-1 first-leg win over Oldham.  The First Division Owls hit back from a goal down to put the tie virtually beyond Oldham's reach. The Latics had gone in front when teenager Danny Boshell scored his first senior goal in the 20th minute, but the Owls levelled 13 minutes later when teenager Owen Morrison opened his career account. Wednesday went in front in the 64th minute when Belgium international Gilles de Bilde turned superbly in the box before shooting home. And there was more agony for Oldham in the 70th minute when Ashley Westwood headed the third for Paul Jewell's side.

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