Latics hit in pocket

CASH-STRAPPED Athletic could be £100,000 poorer next season with the loss of three, possibly four, lucrative Lancashire derbies. The promotion of Preston and Burnley and relegation of Blackpool will deprive the club of three of its biggest league attendance's. If Wigan beat Gillingham in the second division play-off final, Athletic will be left with Bury as the only derby match. “It is a blow to our budget planning to lose three of the biggest gates of the season,” admitted Alan Hardy, Athletic’s chief executive. Preston and Burnley usually bring over 3,000 fans each to Boundary Park, while Blackpool and Wigan bring around half that number. 

The relegated teams of Swindon, Port Vale and Walsall will have followings of hundreds, rather than thousands — thus hitting Athletic hard in the pocket. “When you calculate the loss of income it could quite easily be £100,000,” explained Mr Hardy. Athletic’s pre-season friendly against Leeds United has been switched to August 6 at the Yorkshire club’s request. 

Former Athletic captain Mike Milligan, who has been freed by Norwich, is a transfer target for Blackpool.

 The Latics have hit back at MPs who demanded a ban on non-European footballers at lower division clubs. Several MPs suggested that only teams in the Premiership and Division One should field players from outside the EU. It follows fears that the influx of foreign players is damaging the English national side by squeezing out home-grown youngsters. Currently all English teams can field any number of players from within the European Union, plus Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. There is no limit on non-EU players in the Nationwide, providing the player qualifies for a work permit. Now the Commons Education and Employment Committee wants a quota of two non-EU players per Premiership team and one for each Division One club. Those recommendation's have angered Latics officials who have already been involved in several protests suggesting that current work permit regulations are too strict. The club wrote: "Our recruitment opportunities are being artificially restricted, and yet we are part of the football industry, which is based on free and fair competition." Alan Hardy said: "What has upset us is that the playing field is, at present, not level. We were rejected for our work-permit application for Keith Gumbs, yet Bury were granted one for Indian international Baichung Bhutia, a player of very similar ability."

 It has been confirmed that the link up with Leeds United, which will help fund the Centre of Excellence, will definitely go ahead. Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale said: "At the moment the deal is in breach of the Football League rules but everyone sympathises with our plan because it is good for the game in this country. It was never going to be straight forward, but I have been told by the authorities that the rules will be amended at their AGM."

Former Latics star, Richard Jobson could find himself on the move this summer. The centre-half made his name at Boundary Park during a five year stint that saw him clock up 188 appearances for the club after a £460,000 move from Hull City. Jobson, this season played a major part in Manchester City's return to the Premiership, putting in some solid displays at the heart of City's defence whilst chipping in with the odd crucial goal. However, it is known that Joe Royle is keen to secure a centre half to play alongside Spencer Prior next season and with skipper Andy Morrison set to return, could that spell the end of Jobbo's stint at Maine Road?

Graeme Sharp has revealed that he is now happily engaged in media work and has no intention of making a return to management. Sharp works for local press and radio in Liverpool and has no ambition to return to the competitive world of football management. Sharp became Oldham manager when Joe Royle left the Latics for Everton during the 1994-95 season. Sharp remained in the hot seat until 1997, when he was replaced by Neil Warnock. Sharp later had a short spell in charge at Bangor City but for the moment he is quite content to stick with his media work.